As a country mourns the loss of its ruler and protector, a new hero must rise to face an eminent threat in Director Ryan Coogler’s dramatic action-adventure, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Coogler’s follow-up to his mega-hit feature Black Panther, ticks closely to home as the people of the mythical African nation of Wakanda grieves the untimely death of King T’Challa. But when another advanced hidden nation threatens to destroy them, someone else must pick up the clawed gauntlet.
On November 13, after the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, Coogler discussed the making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever during a Q&A moderated by Director Tyler Perry (A Jazzman's Blues).
Applauding how Coogler’s film both handled and honored the passing of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, Perry asked the Director what he hopes Wakanda Forever gives to its audiences.
“Grief is lonely. It can feel as if it's only happening to me but it's not. I hope the film can help people who are dealing with that emotion. The worst version is when it causes you to be somebody else. I hope the movie can be an exciting movie but also a warm hug if you're going through that. This is my biggest hope.”
Coogler’s other directorial credits include the feature films Black Panther, Creed and Fruitvale Station. He also won a DGA Student Film Award for “Best African American Student Filmmaker - West Region” for his 2010 short, Fig.
Coogler has been a DGA member since 2015.
You can listen to Coogler's Q&A by clicking the podcast episode embedded below. You can find more DGA podcast episodes here.