Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler explains Rihanna’s involvement in the film. The upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2018 blockbuster by the same director, Black Panther. As the final film in Phase Four of the MCU, the box office projections for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are already close to $200 million, promising another hit for Marvel. The film also pays tribute to the lead actor of the first film, Chadwick Boseman, whose tragic death from colon cancer has been mourned both on and off-screen since it happened in 2020.
The success of Black Panther can be attributed to many factors, including Boseman’s exceptional performance and energy as T’Challa. The soundtrack, made in collaboration with musical artist Kendrick Lamar, was certainly a part too. Since the soundtrack for the first film was such a huge hit with critics and listeners alike, many have been eagerly awaiting information about the sequel’s track list. After rumors of Rihanna’s casting in the film in 2020 were debunked, it was recently announced that she would be coming out of her five-year musical hiatus to give a ballad for Black Panther: Wakanda Forevercalled “Lift Me Up.”
At a recent press event attended by screen rant, Coogler spoke about the exciting news of Rihanna’s involvement in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Her ballad is a collaboration between the film’s composer, Ludwig Göransson, Coogler himself, and Nigerian musical artist Tems, who also sings a cover of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry” on the soundtrack. Check out what Coogler had to say about working with Rihanna below:
“I can’t just take credit for that. We have an incredible composer, Ludwig Göransson, who is also a music producer and who has a great reputation. He made This is America with Childish Gambino, for example. I think Ludwig is a big factor , and big thanks to Jay Brown of Roc Nation and Jay-Z, a friend who helped make the connection. Look, Rihanna gave us a whole career and a whole catalog of music. And now she’s got us makeup and clothes. and I think the world would understand if she hung up her mic I totally understand because I love her music so much but I feel like she gave everything you could ask for But the truth is that we were looking for a great artist who could tell the story of the movie, embrace the themes of the movie and present them to the public in a different package, that’s what Kendrick did so beautifully with the first movie, and this movie is different huh It made sense that it would be a woman, and it made sense that it would be someone who could speak not necessarily the words but the feeling of motherhood, because that’s an important theme in this movie. And I think it was about time she was in that kind of space in her life, and she was open. It was really the trailer, I think, when she saw the performances everyone put on. That was what brought her over the edge and [made her] say, “Hey, I want to see this movie. I want to see if I can figure this out.’ …But the truth is, once she played us the record, she honestly said, ‘I did this for Chad.’ It was him, man. And as I sit here and think, it touches me now… Chad brought us all together, you know what I mean? He just keeps going and giving. I’m just really grateful that Rihanna was the latest gift to join the family, and I can’t wait for people to see how it’s used in the movie.”
Rihanna’s New Song Is Just What Wakanda Forever Needs
After half a decade without music, during which she ran a very successful brand and raised a family, it’s exciting for fans of both Black Panther and Rihanna that the legendary singer has decided to return with a new song for one of the most hyped movies of the year. Her ballad will honor Boseman and add another layer to the film, as Lamar’s soundtrack did in 2018. The combination of musical and visual storytelling is enhanced by Rihanna’s powerful voice, and the explanations she gave Coogler only bears. added to the reasons that she was the perfect addition to the soundtrack. Rihanna understood how important it was to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to honor Boseman, and she tried to do just that. Plus, with Coogler explaining that the themes and storylines in the film will center the female characters as they grapple with T’Challa’s death, it makes sense to use a female performer to bring it all together.
The fact that Rihanna was willing to return from hiatus to produce a new song for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever shows how much passion she has for both the ballad and the movie. Coogler’s touching explanation of how she got there just makes it more special, showing the enthusiasm and care each person involved has for both. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and for honoring Boseman’s legacy. Viewers are already queuing for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever because of the mystery of who will be next to wear the Black Panther suit, the involvement of the mutant Namor (Tenoch Huerta), the shooting of Ironheart (Dominique Thorne), and the success of the first film; Rihanna’s new song just promises to draw even more people to the theater.
