Kevin Feige recalls his experiences with the late Chadwick Boseman, who starred in Black Panther. At the age of 43, Boseman lost his fight with cancer in August 2020. He had an enduring impression on the entertainment industry over his career. He played a number of real-life people, including James Brown in Get On Up and Jackie Robinson in 42. Even after his passing, Boseman received posthumous nominations for the Best Actor Oscar for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and the Best Actor Emmy for Marvel’s What If?, both of which he won.

For his role as T’Challa/Black Panther in the MCU, Boseman is well recognized. The character made his debut in Captain America: Civil War from 2016, where he seeks retribution for the death of his father. Then, in 2018’s Black Panther, T’Challa took the lead role and struggled to save his home nation of Wakanda against Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger. The superhero movie Black Panther made $1.3 billion globally, making it the first to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

The head of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, have spoken with Variety on his time working with Boseman while at the screening of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Feige expressed his gratitude and luck for the opportunity to collaborate with the renowned actor. Additionally, he believes that Boseman’s body of work will endure for many years to come. Below are Feige’s remarks regarding Boseman:

“It’s an honor. You know, there was an event called D23 a month or so ago, and Chad was honored as a Disney Legend, and I got to meet his whole family there for the first time. I just feel very lucky and thankful that I got to have him in my life for the short time that I did. And more importantly, he did at such a young age such a body of work that it will last forever, and generation after generation after generation will get to feel his presence.”

Explicit Impact of Chadwick Boseman in the MCU

Kevin Feige Discusses Working With Chadwick Boseman
Chadwick Boseman

It is impossible to overstate the value Boseman and Black Panther gave to the MCU. Black Panther was not only a commercial triumph, but it also contributed to the acceptance of superhero films as legitimate film genres. Before, comic book movies had won Oscars, mostly in the makeup and visual effects categories. But the fact that Black Panther received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture said a lot about what powerful, high-budget superhero movies could do.

Additionally, Black Panther represented a significant improvement in the portrayal of Black characters. In addition to Boseman and Jordan, the cast of the movie also includes Forest Whitaker, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, and Letitia Wright. Black Panther created a new standard by allowing representation to take center stage alongside a plot created in Africa that also honored African traditions and culture. Films like Blade featured Wesley Snipes as the star in a comic book-based movie. With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the MCU is attempting to honor Boseman’s memory with a sizable fanbase while still embracing the people and characters that made the first film unique. Black Panther will therefore carry on Boseman’s legacy and influence on the Marvel Cinematic Universe even after his passing.

Source: Variety