Letitia Wright, star of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’, plays Shuri, sister of the protagonist played by the late Chadwick Boseman, who will be honored in the new film. In an interview with The New York Times, the actress spoke about the injuries she suffered while filming the hit sequel.
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The actress was the victim of a serious accident in August 2021 while doing a stunt scene on a special platform, had her shoulder and suffered a concussion that ended up leaving some sequels. Production on the feature film had to stop for the rest of the year, filming only resumed in January 2022.
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Letitia recalled the challenges she went through during filming and was proud of what she was able to do after her recovery. 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 said it beautifully. Seeing everybody give 110 percent inspires you each day”.
She continues: “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”.
Asked if she thinks people are more receptive to black women as superheroes, the actress replied: “Today a girl told me,‘I came out of the cinema feeling I can do anything after watching the film and seeing what Shuri presented to the world’”. And reiterates the importance of representation. “It should become the norm because there are so many women out there that are so heroic and amazing. We just show a piece of that onscreen.
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ opens in theaters on November 11.