Actor Letitia Wright recently opened up about the severe injury she suffered while on the set of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The upcoming film is a sequel to Black Panther, the 2018 smash MCU hit which starred Wright as Shuri, the sister to T'Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). As a result of Boseman's untimely passing, Wakanda Forever will pay tribute to the actor and likely pass the mantle of the Black Panther to Wright.
In August 2021, Wright reportedly suffered a severe injury while performing a stunt within a specialized rig, fracturing her shoulder and receiving a terrible concussion that had lasting effects. The accident sent the actor to the hospital and caused the production to be shut down for the rest of the year. Wright returned to Wakanda Forever in January the following year and continued filming without any additional setbacks.
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In a recent interview with The New York Times, Wright opened up about her severe injury while working on Wakanda Forever. The actor recalled the multitude of "physical challenges" she experienced during shooting but admitted that she was immensely proud of what she accomplished after bouncing back from her injury. Read what Wright said about her work below.
"My experience was different. There were a lot of physical challenges that I faced as well, but alongside that I came away really proud that in the face of adversity, I could bounce back and give that extra life and strength to my character. I think Mabel [Cadena] said it beautifully. Seeing everybody give 110 percent inspires you each day. The journey wasn’t pain-free, but you can stand on top of the mountain and say you did it. Hopefully, that transfers to the film, and people walk away feeling ecstatic and empowered because that’s definitely how we feel after making it."
Wright's comments indicate that she looks back at her demanding and painful experience while working on Wakanda Forever in a positive light. Going through such a physically traumatic shoot seemingly took an emotional toll as well. Wright claims that it was her costars' drive to perform at a high level gave her the energy to push every day. The actor's challenging recovery from her on-set injury coupled with the grief due to the passing of her friend, Boseman, likely assisted Wright in delivering a truly unforgettable performance in the upcoming sequel.
Wakanda Forever's production suffered from a considerable number of setbacks, but its stars appear to have used those rough moments as motivation to create a worthy successor to Black Panther and a film that intends to honor the memory of Boseman. Wright previously stated that it was in the late actor's memory that kept them committed to the story and to her costars, claiming that they all poured everything they had into the movie. With Boseman's legacy a core part of the film, audiences will finally see how Wright and the rest of the cast honored their friend when Wakanda Forever lands in theaters on November 11.