Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s release is just around the corner. Fans can’t seem to hold their horses as everyone is excited to see how the movie pans out, especially without Chadwick Boseman. With the movie’s release, come a lot of emotions flowing back, both for the fans, and the people involved in the film. Actor Winston Duke, who plays M’Baku in the movie recently talked about his first encounter with Chadwick Boseman.
Winston Duke shared a hilarious, yet emotional flashback of the time when he first met his Black Panther co-star. His first meeting with Chadwick Boseman was during an audition for the movie, where the casting team wanted to see how the characters looked side-by-side and assess the on-screen chemistry between the two actors.
Winston Duke Recalls the Embarrassing Audition
Recently, Winston Duke appeared as a guest on the talk show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, for the promotion of the upcoming Black Panther sequel. When host Jimmy Fallon asked Duke to recall his first encounter working with Chadwick Boseman, Duke replied with a hilarious story.
Duke stated that the first time he met Boseman was during the final audition or the screen test where the team wanted to see how the two actors complement each other’s acting skills. He further added that the actors were then asked to wrestle each other for the same reason.
“We were going through the scenes, and they’re like, ‘We just want to see how you guys are gonna be together, how you’re gonna play. So could you wrestle or something?’”
The Nine Days actor stated that he thought if wrestling was going to be the thing that gets him the job, then so be it. While Boseman was a martial artist and that “he could hold his own,” Duke had done wrestling in high school and some in college. He hilariously continued the flashback stating that the moment he crouched down to get into position, the unthinkable happened. Duke had split his pants in front of the entire room, adding that everyone not only heard the rip, they even saw it.
Duke sarcastically added that he believed he was God’s favorite as the best things happen to him, which Fallon related to the time Duke had an awkward encounter with Rihanna.
“I tell you the best things happen to me. I’m telling you God has a sense of humor. That is the one thing I can confirm. I’m like one of his favourites.”
Duke has always believed in the ideology that he just has to win the room, even if he doesn’t win the audition, as winning the room equals more audition calls in the future. With the hilarious ordeal he recalled, he won the room alright.
Wakanda Forever’s Tribute to Chadwick Boseman
During the conversation, Fallon brings up Wakanda Forever being a tribute to the late actor, who undoubtedly is missed by everyone. Duke was visibly emotional when asked if it was difficult to film the sequel without him, stating that the days of filming were full of emotions.
“Yeah. I mean it was very – just a lot of emotions everyday, a lot of grief. Since none of us knew he was even sick, it was so much for everyone included, all the way from Ryan to the cast.”
Duke added that right before the actors’ first day of filming, they would be taken to pay their respects to Boseman’s gravesite to say goodbye to the actor, as a cast. He stated that everyone told stories and what the actor meant to them. No doubt, this was a great way for the team to get closure.
While Duke and Boseman’s characters in Black Panther didn’t always get along, the actors on the other hand shared a positive off-screen bond. Duke was even against the recasting of T’Challa. It looks like the sequel is going to be an emotional ride, both for the Wakanda Forever team and the fans.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to release in theatres on November 11, 2022.
Source: Youtube
