Michaela Coel Opens Up About Challenges on Black Panther Sequel Set
Michaela Coel has candidly admitted that she felt unprepared for her role in the blockbuster film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The acclaimed writer and actor, best known for her groundbreaking BBC series I May Destroy You, revealed she struggled significantly with the demands of greenscreen acting during production.
'What Am I Doing Here?' Coel Questions Her Fit in Marvel Universe
In a revealing interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Coel expressed feeling 'a little astray' while filming her part as warrior Aneka in Ryan Coogler's sequel. 'I really don't think I was ready for that world of greenscreen acting,' she confessed. 'I literally don't know how to do that. I don't know how to act when something isn't there. It's a skill that I had not quite possessed.'
The 38-year-old star, who landed the Marvel role shortly after the success of I May Destroy You in 2020, questioned her ability to serve the story effectively. 'When one is not quite prepared for a job, it's also quite hard to feel like I'm serving it – and then I'm not serving the story,' Coel explained. 'And then what am I doing here then?'
Contrasting Acting Approaches and Co-Star Inspiration
Coel contrasted her experience with watching co-star Angela Bassett excel in the same environment. 'It is a different world, and I think it's different muscles,' she observed. 'The muscle easier to use for me is in that intimate, small room – two people, heavy, thick dialogue, psychological. This is what I really enjoy.'
The actor's admission comes despite her proven dramatic capabilities and critical acclaim. Her role in Wakanda Forever represented a significant departure from the intimate storytelling that defined her previous work.
Production Context and Boseman's Legacy
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever faced extraordinary challenges during development following the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman in August 2020. Director Ryan Coogler, who began planning the sequel after the first film's massive success in 2018, made the decision not to recast Boseman's role as T'Challa.
Instead, the film addressed the character's death off-screen, focusing on the grieving process of his family and the preservation of his legacy within the Wakandan narrative. This emotional backdrop added further complexity to the production environment where Coel found herself working.
Current Projects and Future Directions
Despite her challenges with the Marvel production, Coel remains exceptionally busy with multiple high-profile projects. She is currently filming First Day On Earth, a 10-episode series marking her return to writing six years after I May Destroy You. In this project, she stars as Henri, a British writer traveling to Ghana to reconnect with her estranged father.
Additionally, Coel appears in two films releasing this month:
- The Christophers: Directed by Steven Soderbergh, featuring Coel opposite Sir Ian McKellen
- Mother Mary: An A24 musical thriller where Coel plays a stylist reuniting with her pop star client, portrayed by Anne Hathaway
These projects represent a return to the intimate, character-driven work that Coel identifies as her creative strength, while her Marvel experience highlights the distinct challenges of large-scale franchise filmmaking.
