Ryan Coogler Reveals the Original Plot for ‘Black Panther 2’

Written before the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman, the draft explored an adventure between T’Challa and his eight-year-old son.

Summary

• Ryan Coogler reveals the original Black Panther 2 script centered on T’Challa’s son
• The story featured a “Ritual of 8” plot during a conflict with Namor
• Coogler is now developing a third Black Panther film with Marvel Studios

During a recent appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, director Ryan Coogler shared rare insights into the original script for the Black Panther sequel before the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman. According to Coogler, the initial 180-page draft centered on the relationship between T’Challa and his eight-year-old son, marking a stark departure from the grief-stricken narrative eventually seen in Wakanda Forever.

The original story was built around a fictional Wakandan tradition called the “Ritual of 8,” which required a prince to spend eight days in the bush with his father. During this period, the prince could ask any question and the father was bound to answer. Coogler revealed that Namor was always intended as the primary antagonist, launching an attack during this sacred rite. The film’s tension relied on T’Challa defending his kingdom against an “insanely dangerous” threat while remaining physically tethered to his son to avoid violating the ritual.

Coogler expressed a deep sense of loss regarding the unproduced script, noting that he had finished the draft and sent it to Boseman, who was unfortunately too ill to read it. The director also touched upon earlier creative hurdles, revealing he originally wanted to feature Kraven the Hunter in the first film – a move ultimately blocked by Sony’s ownership of the character. Following the success of Sinners, Coogler is now back in development with Marvel Studios for the third installment of the Black Panther franchise.