On Friday (August 28), the acting world lost one of its most talented and groundbreaking performers when it was revealed that Chadwick Boseman had passed away at the age of 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer.
Since the tragic news was announced, many of Boseman's fans, friends, and co-stars have taken to social media to pay their respects to the actor.
Celebrities like Josh Gad and the Obamas have all shared their memories of Boseman, and now Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has revealed that the actor played a huge role in helping to create such an integral movie.
Released in 2018, Black Panther was hailed for its empowering representation of black people, and became the first Marvel movie ever to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Coogler has revealed just how much of the iconic movie Boseman personally helped to establish, telling the publication:
"While filming the movie, we would meet at the office or at my rental home in Atlanta, to discuss lines and different ways to add depth to each scene.
"We talked costumes, military practices. He said to me, 'Wakandans have to dance during the coronations. If they just stand there with spears, what separates them from Romans?'"
And Coogler also revealed that Boseman was behind one of the film's most powerful lines. (Spoilers ahead.)
Following a battle with friend-turned-enemy Erik Killmonger (played by Michael B. Jordan), King T'Challa tells him that Wakandan scientists will still be able to heal him and save his life.
However, Killmonger refuses and tells T'Challa:
"Why, so you can lock me up? Nah. Just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, 'cause they knew death was better than bondage."
Well, it turns out Boseman was fundamental in shaping this iconic moment, with Coogler revealing: "In early drafts of the script, Eric Killmonger’s character would ask T’Challa to be buried in Wakanda. Chad challenged that and asked, 'What if Killmonger asked to be buried somewhere else?'"
After Coogler shared his memories of working with Boseman, many of the actor's fans took to Twitter to share their reactions:
Our thoughts are with Boseman's family, friends, and fans at this time...
