Production for the Black Panther sequel has been pushed back to next year to allow Letitia Wright to fully recuperate after officials said the injuries she sustained while shooting a scene some months back “turned out to be much more serious”, NBC News reported.
Marvel Studios had initially said Wright’s injuries wouldn’t have any implication on the movie’s film schedule. The British-Guyanese actress was reportedly cast as the lead actor for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever following the death of Chadwick Boseman.
“As you are all aware, Letitia had a frightening accident on our set during a stunt back in August,” Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito and Nate Moore wrote in a message to the movie’s cast and crew.
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“What we had initially thought were minor injuries turned out to be much more serious with Letitia suffering a critical shoulder fracture, and a concussion with severe side effects.”
“It has been a painful process and Letitia has been home recovering with her doctors and the support of family,” the officials said.
Producers said Wright will be on set when filming of the sequel resumes in January 2022. The extent of Wright’s injuries and long recovery time was used as a basis to determine the production resumption date.
“We’ve adjusted our production schedule so she has the time she needs to heal, but there’s only so much we can do without Shuri!” the officials added. “We are eagerly awaiting her return and we know we will all come back stronger together.”
Wright, 28, got injured in a stunt rig accident while shooting a scene in Boston in August. And Marvel Studios, in early November, announced production for the sequel was going to be paused from the beginning of Thanksgiving week. The extent of Wright’s injuries wasn’t disclosed at that time.
Wright, who plays Shuri – the brother of King T’Challa (Boseman) – has been recuperating in London following the accident, Face2Face Africa reported. The Ryan Coogler-directed film had been primarily shooting in Atlanta prior to the accident.
