Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has resumed filming with the return of star Letitia Wright.
The Shuri actress was injured back in November, and with the character’s more prominent role in the sequel, Marvel Studios and The Walt Disney Company informed the cast and crew that the entirety of production would be paused.
In a memo that admitted there was “only so much [they] can do without Shuri”, Kevin Feige said: “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.
At the time they believed filming would resume in January and that has indeed turned out to be the case, with a spokesperson for the actress telling BBC News that: “Filming resumed this month as planned and we’re on schedule.”
It hasn’t been confirmed officially, but it is highly expected that Shuri will inherit the mantle of Black Panther following the death of T’Challa actor Chadwick Boseman. Marvel bosses have insisted that the role won’t be recast.
The film will also feature Dominique Thorne making her MCU debut as Riri Williams, also known as Ironheart, ahead of her titular TV series on Disney+.
When the break in filming was announced, Feige stated that the sequel would keep its November release date.
Meanwhile, Letitia Wright will next be appearing on the big screen in Agatha Christie adaptation Death on the Nile, the sequel to 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express. (Digital Spy)