Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Begins Production Hiatus

Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has officially begun a production hiatus for the rest of the calendar year. Producers are allowing star Letitia Wright extra time to heal up from injuries she suffered on-set earlier in the year. Cast and crew got the news in a note from Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, and Nate Moore.

Deadline reports that production will resume when Letitia is able to rejoin the cast in January. Wright suffered a broken shoulder and a concussion while filming in Boston in August. The injuries proved more serious than originally believed, and the pause was enacted. The entirety of the note from the studio was posted today.

“As we wind down for the holidays, we wanted to send a note of thanks and appreciation for the hard work of our entire cast and crew, as well as an update on timing. First and foremost, this project is exceptional and something we know audiences are eager to see. We could not be any more excited to complete this film and share it with the world next year. Thank you for everything you’ve done to get us to this place.

Unfortunately, we’ve not gotten here without a few setbacks. Running a production of this scale in the midst of a pandemic is not an easy task, and you have remained diligent and professional throughout. In addition, as you are all aware, Letitia had a frightening accident on our set during a stunt back in August. It was a reminder of the importance of safety at all times in our work, which we know you understand and are committed to. What we had initially thought were minor injuries turned out to be much more serious with Letitia suffering a critical shoulder fracture, and a concussion with severe side effects. It has been a painful process and Letitia has been home recovering with her doctors and the support of family.

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We’ve adjusted our production schedule so she has the time she needs to heal, but there’s only so much we can do without Shuri! We also want to thank Letitia for everything she’s doing to get back to the set – we know how much she loves this role, how tough it’s been for her to be away, and how hard she’s working to recover as quickly as she safely can. We are eagerly awaiting her return and we know we will all come back stronger together.

Please be on the lookout for more information on your specific return-to-work date. As of now, we’re on schedule to resume filming – with Letitia – in January 2022. We are all focused on finishing the movie with excellence, honoring the memory of our dear brother Chadwick in the process. We are thrilled to share Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with the world, confident that the challenges that we have overcome together as a team will make the film even more impactful. Please take care of yourselves and enjoy the holidays.

-Kevin, Louis & Nate”

Fan speculation points to Wright’s Shuri character taking on a far larger role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There is a massive gap for the franchise after the death of its leading man, Chadwick Boseman. It remains one of the most anticipated releases scheduled for 2022.

The release of the film was pushed back along with several other Disney properties. Originally set to be out July 8, 2022, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will now debut on November 11. Wright was criticized for her anti-vaccination comments on set and has since denied the accounts.

What do you think of the delay in filming for Black Panther 2? Let us know in the comments!