Entertainment
Rihanna joins Black Panther cast on glittering red carpet for Wakanda Forever as Letitia Wright and director Ryan Coogler pay beautiful tribute to Chadwick Boseman-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
Marvel star Boseman died in 2020.
Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever hits cinemas in November (Picture: FilmMagic)
Rihanna is finally back with new music, much to the delight of fans, and she joined the stars of Black Panther on the red carpet to celebrate.
Marvel Studios’ Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever enjoyed a star-studded premiere in Hollywood, California on Wednesday (October 26), with cast members including Letita Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, and Angela Bassett donning their glad rags for the occasion.
Umbrella hitmaker Rihanna looked stunning as she posed with boyfriend A$AP Rocky, with whom she welcomed her first child – believed to be a boy – earlier this year.
The A-lister couple were all co-ordinated in matching grey ensembles, with Rihanna donning a strapless sequin number, complete with gloves and peep-toe heels.
She wore her raven locks in natural waves and added some sparkle to her eyes to bring the whole look together – we’re guessing her face was made up by Fenty Beauty and Fenty Beauty only.
Rihanna couldn’t have looked happier as she gears up to return to the music scene properly for the first time since releasing her album Anti in 2016.
Rihanna looked stunning on the red carpet in a sequin number (Picture: Getty)
The singer is gearing up to return to music for the first time in six years (Picture: Getty)
Lift Me Up features in the sequel film’s soundtrack and has already been warmly received by fans, despite the star dropping just a 14-second trailer.
According to Black Panther 2’s director, Ryan Coogler, the Work songstress was keen to be part of the film in honour of late star Chadwick Boseman.
When quizzed on how Rihanna’s involvement came about, the filmmaker said at the Hollywood premiere that many ‘improbable’ things had to take place before it was realised.
She was joined by boyfriend A$AP Rocky, with whom she recently welcomed her first child (Picture: FilmMagic)
The sweet couple held hands in their matching outfits (Picture: FilmMagic)
‘Honestly, I think it was Chad,’ he said. ‘A lot of improbable things needed to happen for it to come through and Rihanna was very clear that she did that for him.’
And it isn’t just Rihanna honouring Boseman with her input into the film, as stars also made sure he was there in spirit on the carpet.
Posing outside the at Dolby Theatre, director Coogler wore a gold chain with Boseman’s picture on to keep his memory alive following his heartbreaking death in 2020.
Director Ryan Coogler paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman with his necklace (Picture: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
The filmmaker made sure the actor was there in spirit (Picture: Reuters)
Wright (who plays Shuri in the film) also wore an iconic outfits of Boseman’s, which was instantly recognisable as she stepped out in a black suit with bedazzled shoulders.
The sweet gestures didn’t go unnoticed by fans, who felt the absence of his presence at the event.
‘Aww miss him, just the saddest thing..great actor, beautiful person,’ one fan wrote on Twitter.
Letitia Wright honoured Boseman with her outfit (Picture: Getty)
The actress smiled as she joined her co-stars on the Hollywood carpet (Picture: Getty)
Boseman died in 2020 following cancer treatment (Picture: WireImage)
‘The love and respect they all have for him is just incredible,’ wrote another.
Boseman brought T’Challa to life in the Marvel films ahead of his death after being diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, for which he had secretly been undergoing cancer treatment since 2016.
It was decided that the much-loved star, who was just 43-years-old when he died, would not be recast in Black Panther 2, with producers instead making the sequel a tribute to Boseman and character’s legacy within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Lupita Nyong’o beamed as she returns to the Marvel sequel (Picture: WireImage)
The actress looked stunning in a white two-piece (Picture: Getty)
She flashed the famous ‘Wakanda Forever’ sign for cameras (Picture: Getty)
Nakia star Lupita Nyong’o previously expressed how much things changed after Boseman’s death, noting how ‘the world rotated’ around him.
‘Losing your centrepiece, everything changed. When you say the world rotated around him, it revolved around him, it did,’ she told The Hollywood Reporter about making adjustments from the original script.
Director Coogler added that the sequel was originally ‘rooted in T’Challa’s perspective,’ describing the story as a ‘character study’ while also bringing the usual Marvel action and adventure.
Danai Gurira oozed glamour in a purple number (Picture: WireImage)
Angela Bassett wowed in a metallic three-tier gown (Picture: WireImage)
Daniel Kaluuya looked suave in a maroon suit (Picture: WireImage)
Connie Chiume joined the stars in a vibrant yellow look with elaborate headpiece (Picture: Getty)
Also taking to the carpet on Wednesday night at the premiere, Nyong’o looked stunning in all white, donning a two-piece set featuring a crop top and long skirt with cut-out detailing.
She ensured to flash the ‘Wakanda Forever’ sign for cameras, as did plenty of other cast members, which involves the crossing of the arms in the formation of an ‘X.’
Meanwhile, co-star Danai Gurira oozed glamour in an avant-garde purple gown with elaborate ruffles.
Chewing Gum star Michaela Coel wore a brown sequin frock with matching hood (Picture: WireImage)
Michael B. Jordan injected some colour also with a sunshine yellow suit (Picture: WireImage)
Tyler Perry put in an appearance to celebrate the upcoming sequel (Picture: Getty)
Gurira – who reprises her role as Okoye in the sequel – wore her hair in a chic up do to complement her regal look and accessorised with sparkling silver jewels.
Keeping with the purple theme, Bassett (who plays Ramonda) stunned ina three-tier gown of metallic fabric.
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The Globe Award-winner was joined by her ever-supportive husband, Courtney B. Vance.
Other stars in attendance included Michaela Coel, Jameel Jamil, and sisters Halle and Chloe Bailey.
Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever tells the story of the nation of Wakanda as they are pitted against intervening world powers while they mourn the loss of their king, T’Challa.
Watch the film in cinemas from November 11.
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