‘He left this huge gaping hole’: Michaela Coel reveals what filming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was like without the late Chadwick Boseman
Michaela Coel and Winston Duke explained what filming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was like without late star Chadwick Boseman.
The couple are expected to speak about the impact of Chadwick’s death on set during an appearance on the Graham Norton Show on BBC One on Friday.
Speaking to Graham, Winston, 35, said that while it was great to reunite with the cast, “Chadwick left this huge gaping hole, which was really hard to fill and you really felt it.”
‘He left this huge gaping hole’: Winston Duke and Michaela Coel (pictured) revealed on The Graham Norton Show this week what filming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was like without the late Chadwick Boseman
“It was really melancholic to get back into it all,” he said.
He went on to say that he had visited Chadwick’s grave and “asked for his blessing”.
‘Visiting his grave to formally say goodbye and ask for his blessing was really great to help deal with it as it was such a surprise – none of us knew he was sick and we were only weeks away filming when we heard about his passing,’ he said.
Tragic: In August 2020, Black Panther star Chadwick died aged 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer
“The film is deeply about grief and how difficult and messy it is, there’s no perfect way to get through it, and you’re forever changed by it.”
Michaela added, “For me, visiting the grave allowed me to not only see Chadwick from Marvel’s perspective, but to understand that he was a friend of this cast and it was a true human loss.”
Earlier this week, Lupita Nyong’o revealed what it was like to film without Chadwick, saying “it was hollow”.
Speaking to Graham, Winston, 35, said while it was great to reunite with the cast, ‘Chadwick left this huge gaping hole, which was really hard to fill and you really felt it’
‘It was hollow. It was very obvious he was missing and we all felt it, but we had each other too, so we were able to lean into each other, that was actually the only way forward I guess, it was leaning into it and being there for each other,’ the 39-year-old actress told Good Morning America.
“It was good to do this with a group of people who knew him, who had experienced his light and his love and so that we could empathize and really lean on each other,” she added.
In August 2020, Black Panther star Chadwick died at 43 after a private four-year battle with colon cancer.
‘It is with immeasurable sorrow that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016 and has battled it for the past 4 years as he progressed to stage IV’ ‘, the family said in a statement at the time.
“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all and brought you many of the movies you love so much.”
The family revealed that several of their films, including August Wilson’s Marshall, Da 5 Bloods and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, were filmed “during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.”
Star: Chadwick is pictured in Black Panther shortly before his death
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