Ryan Coogler opened up about the original plans for Black Panther 2 during his appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, amid the awards season press tour for his hit film Sinners. The director revealed that the sequel, which became 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever following Chadwick Boseman’s death in 2020, originally centered on T’Challa and his 8-year-old son.
Coogler explained that the early script revolved around a story called the “Ritual of Eight.” In this ritual, an eight-year-old prince must spend eight days in the wilderness with his father, during which he can ask any question, and the father must answer. During this time, the villain Namor, played by Tenoch Huerta in Wakanda Forever, launches an attack, forcing T’Challa to navigate dangerous negotiations and battles while staying close to his son.
“The big thing with the script was a thing called the Ritual of 8 where a prince is 8 years old, he must spend 8 days in the bush with his father,” Coogler said. “The rule is for those 8 days the prince can ask the father any question and the father must answer… It was insane. Chadwick was going to kill it, but life goes as it goes.”
Coogler confirmed he completed the 180-page draft and reached out to Boseman, but the actor was too sick to read it before his passing. He reflected on their close relationship and the impact Boseman had on him personally and professionally.
In addition to discussing the original Black Panther 2 plans, Coogler revealed he had originally wanted to include Kraven the Hunter in the first Black Panther movie, drawing inspiration from Christopher Priest’s comic run. However, because Kraven is owned by Sony, the idea was blocked. Sony later produced its own Kraven the Hunter film in 2024, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, which underperformed at the box office.
Following the success of Sinners, Coogler is now developing Black Panther 3 with Marvel Studios.
He also teased his upcoming X-Files revival, highlighting his respect for the show’s legacy and its influence on modern television. Coogler emphasized that his version would honor both the serialized storylines and the classic “monster-of-the-week” format. While he hasn’t confirmed if Gillian Anderson or David Duchovny will return, he has spoken with both actors, leaving the possibility open.
“I can’t… I’m a big fan of Gillian’s, I’m a big fan of David’s. That’s all I can say,” Coogler said, leaving the door open for fans.
For Marvel fans, the revelation of the original Black Panther 2 script offers a glimpse at the story that might have been, a heartfelt vision that Coogler had crafted with Boseman in mind.