Was Lupita Nyong’o ‘Frustrated’ With Her Character Arc in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?

Lupita Nyong’o admitted struggling with Nakia’s calm demeanor in Wakanda Forever, contrasting her raw grief after Boseman’s loss.

In a candid chat with Digital Spy, Nyong’o admitted she felt “envious” of Letitia Wright, who plays Shuri, for getting the more chaotic arc in the film. “That’s how I felt,” Nyong’o shared, reflecting on her emotions. “I felt wrong and, you know, wanted to express it.”

The sequel, filmed 10 months after Boseman’s passing, dove deep into grief, loss, and healing. For Nakia, this meant processing T’Challa’s death at a different pace than the rest of the cast. Nyong’o initially struggled with portraying someone “a little further along in terms of her processing” compared to Shuri’s storm of emotions.

But as filming progressed, something clicked. Nyong’o realized Nakia’s steady presence was vital. “What she was once to T’Challa, she now has the opportunity to offer Shuri,” the actress explained. If you recall, Coogler once described Nakia as T’Challa’s “oasis.” This time around, she became that for his grieving sister.

While Nyong’o eventually embraced Nakia’s arc, it didn’t come easy. She admitted her frustrations stemmed from personal grief over losing Boseman. “I had to look beyond my frustrations with losing Chadwick and learn from Nakia, learn from that wisdom she seems to possess,” Nyong’o said.

Nakia’s character became a grounding force in a film charged with emotions. As Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri, Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the rest of Wakanda fought to protect their nation from new threats, Nakia reminded them—and the audience—that healing doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all path.

The sequel balanced epic battles with quieter moments of reflection, a decision Nyong’o eventually saw as part of the film’s architecture. “It made a lot of sense,” she said. Nakia’s calm served as a counterbalance to Shuri’s chaos, offering a different perspective on grief.

For Nyong’o, stepping back into Nakia’s shoes was as much about personal growth as it was about honoring Boseman’s legacy. “The fact that she was T’Challa’s love, in a way, I guess it allows an audience to know that it’s okay,” she asserted.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gave audiences a poignant look at loss and resilience. For Nyong’o, it became a lesson in finding strength. And Nakia? She proved that being an “oasis” isn’t just about peace—it’s about power, too.

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