'Black Panther' Director Ryan Coogler Explains Why He Almost Left Hollywood After Chadwick Boseman's Death

Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther, opened up about how Chadwick Boseman‘s death almost led to him leaving the industry.

The 36-year-old director worked with Chadwick on the 2018 entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He revealed in a recent interview that he almost left Hollywood after Chadwick passed away in August 2020.

Click inside to learn why Ryan Coogler was thinking about leaving Hollywood…

“I was at a point when I was like, ‘I’m walking away from this business.’ I didn’t know if I could make another movie period, [let alone] another Black Panther movie, because it hurt a lot,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I was like, ‘Man, how could I open myself up to feeling like this again?’”

Ryan revealed what helped him decide to continue his career: “poring over a lot of our conversations that we had, towards what I realized was the end of his life. I decided that it made more sense to keep going.”

He took on directorial duties for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which premieres on November 11.

While you’re here, check out the newest trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which teases who will accept the hero’s mantle after Chadwick‘s passing.