In a recent conversation on the podcast Happy Sad Confused, director Ryan Coogler offered a revealing look at what Black Panther 2 might have been before the tragic loss of star Chadwick Boseman in 2020. Long before Marvel reconfigured the sequel into Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Coogler completed a sprawling 180-page draft that he describes as a deeply personal and narratively ambitious one built around King T'Challa, his young son and a traditional Wakandan rite of passage. The original story centred on the "Ritual of Eight", an ancient challenge in which an eight-year-old prince must spend eight days in the wilderness with his father, asking questions that the father must truthfully answer. During the course of those eight days, the ruler Namor was poised to launch a devastating attack, forcing T'Challa to balance his royal duties with his role as a father, keeping his son at his side throughout the confrontation.

Coogler said he had hoped Boseman, who was privately battling colon cancer, would read and bring life to the script, but the timing never allowed for it, with the actor too ill to engage before his death. “I loved that script." Coogler said, reflecting on how much he had invested in exploring new layers of T'Challa's character and Boseman's range.

After Boseman's passing, Coogler was faced with the challenge of reshaping the sequel into a tribute that honoured both the narrative legacy of Wakanda and the real-life impact of his friend and collaborator, leading to the widely acclaimed Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022.

Elsewhere, the Sinners (2025) director spoke movingly about his bond with Boseman, recalling how their relationship was marked by mutual respect and quiet support. Coogler said he only later learnt, through Boseman's family and friends, how much he had meant to the actor – a realisation that deeply affected him. He added that Boseman often shielded him during difficult moments on the first Black Panther, especially on days when he feared losing his job, recalling that the actor reassured him he would never allow that to happen.

However, Coogler, who is currently in the early stages of reviving The X-Files for television, noted that the Black Panther sequel gave him an opportunity to centre the narrative around its female characters, adding that the film remains close to his heart. Coogler, who is set to return with Black Panther 3, said he recognises the doubts surrounding a chapter in the series. And he said the decision to return to the franchise is driven by personal conviction, adding that he understands why some may question another instalment from the outside. He noted that such scepticism is valid but added that it is his responsibility as a filmmaker to justify the film through the work itself.