Director Ryan Coogler is remembering the late Chadwick Boseman not just for his iconic performance as T’Challa in Black Panther, but for the unwavering dedication he brought to the role on and off the camera.
In a recent interview on The Breakfast Club (via People), Coogler opened up about Boseman’s intense work ethic and how it even caught Disney executives off guard during filming.
He was talking in an African accent. Disney execs came to see us on Panther. It was week two and they pulled up and it was the T’Challa accent and they were freaked out. I was like, ‘Don’t be freaked out. He’s working, man. He don’t turn it off until we wrap.’
Coogler recalled.
Boseman’s total commitment to his craft had a profound impact on the entire Black Panther team especially Michael B. Jordan, who portrayed the film’s antagonist, Erik Killmonger.
Out of all of my actors, Chad’s death actually hit [Michael B. Jordan] the hardest. Chad was older than us… even though he looked like he was the same age. He was a fully baked man from the South. He was an old school man’s man… me and Mike was kids.
Coogler shared.
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Boseman passed away in August 2020 at age 43 following a private battle with colon cancer, leaving an indelible mark on Hollywood and everyone who worked with him.
Chad changed my life. He was the kind of teacher who you never knew you was getting a lesson when he taught. It was all by example and what he gave me and Michael was patience. He moved at an old-school pace and he took his time. He was always early. He was that type of dude.
Coogler continued.
Even years after Boseman’s passing, his influence continues to guide Coogler and Jordan creatively. While working on their new film Sinners, the director revealed how he often finds himself asking a key question when shaping characters.
I told him man, I said, ‘Hey bro, what would Chad do in this Sinners role? If he had this role what would he do?’ Because Chad never broke action.
Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, opens in theaters April 18 via Warner Bros.
Source: Variety
