Ruth E. Carter, the film’s costume designer, discussed how the series honoured the late Chadwick Boseman, who played the title character, in an interview with Variety.
When T’Challa awakens in the Ancestral Plane and sees his father, Carter explained that the man is dressed in white. We selected white because it links us to Chadwick and T’Challa. White is a colour that is frequently worn in funerals in Africa.
The movie’s trailer begins with Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and her daughter Shuri (Letitia Wright) leading an army of inhabitants of Wakanda through the streets while they are all wearing white. Shuri is pictured holding the Black Panther mask in stunning cinematography, a dramatic contrast to the sea of white in the background, according to Collider.
Previously, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, filmmaker Ryan Coogler discussed paying tribute to Boseman.
The 36-year-old Coogler reveals, “I was at a point where I was like, ‘I’m going away from this business.'” It stung so much that I wasn’t sure I could ever do another movie, much less another Black Panther film. Man, how could I expose myself to experiencing this way once more? ‘”
After Boseman passed away, Coogler began replaying memories in his head, according to EW. He would watch old video of himself with Boseman or listen to interviews where his friend would discuss what the role of T’Challa and Wakanda meant to him.
Coogler found himself thinking about the future as he listened to Boseman’s remarks because the actor has always been a fervent supporter of the movie. When I realised that he was nearing the end of his life, I reread several of our chats and felt that continuing made more sense.
Producer Nate Moore says, “The movie is very much about how you move forward while dealing with a sad loss.” The characters, both old and new, “are all coping with how grief may alter your actions in ways that are shocking and emotionally charged.”
On November 11, 2022, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released in theatres.