In his 2018 blockbuster superhero film, "Black Panther," director Ryan Coogler learned the importance of staying present in the moment.
Coogler's film, "Sinners," recently became the most nominated film in Oscar history, earning 16 nominations for the 2026 edition. This record was previously held by "All About Eve" (1950), "Titanic" (1997), and "La La Land" (2016), each with 14 nominations.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Coogler spoke about the lessons he learned from Chadwick Boseman, the star of "Black Panther," who passed away in 2020 after a secret four-year battle with cancer. Boseman was 43 years old.
"During our conversations, I was about 30 years old, stressed, completely overwhelmed, and struggling to sleep. I was convinced that the film wouldn't work," Coogler said.
"I deprived myself of truly enjoying that experience – even of simply appreciating Chadwick Boseman's performances, because he never gave a bad one. When he passed, I realized how much I had held myself back due to my own self-doubt," he added.
"I will take the lessons from Chad throughout my career. This includes seeing the good in things, recognizing their value, and not letting self-doubt or negativity prevent me from enjoying the moments with my cast and colleagues," Coogler stated.
Coogler made his directorial debut with "Fruitvale Station," which was based on the real-life events surrounding the 2009 death of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old, at the hands of police.
His second project was "Creed," a spin-off from Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky" franchise.
"Black Panther," which grossed over $1.35 billion worldwide, was praised for its portrayal of Black culture and history through the story of a king ruling a technologically advanced African country.
Coogler was deep into making the sequel when the pandemic hit, and they all learned about Boseman's death. The filmmaker had to rewrite the story to honor Boseman's legacy while continuing the story without him.
"Wakanda Forever," initially intended as a continuation of the world from "Black Panther," had to be completely re-imagined with Boseman's T’Challa dying at the beginning of the film.
"I often spoke with experienced filmmakers, some of whom had been working in the industry for decades, and they would say: ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before,’" Coogler said.
"We had to approach the project with a sense of vulnerability, or it wouldn't have been possible. Me and Chad were very close, and it was a deeply emotional experience. It felt like we were all separate planets, orbiting a dying sun," he added.
Coogler reflects on this time with both sadness and pride.
"I learned that I was more resilient than I thought. And, this film has been watched at home more than any other 'Black Panther' film. I think people watch it when they want to feel something specific," he said.
"Sinners," Coogler's first film since his debut, is inspired by his great-uncle James Edmonson, who passed away in 2015.
The film, which blends Black history, blues music, the Jim Crow South, cultural appropriation, and vampires, was released at a time when Warner Bros. films were struggling and uncertainty surrounded the future of Warner Bros. executives Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy.
However, the film was a critical and commercial success.
Coogler said he was not concerned about the negative feedback surrounding the release of "Sinners."
“I admired Mike and Pam and what they were doing, so I didn't mind that our film was the one that needed to work—I actually liked that. I was happy that it was 'Sinners,' where people were talking about: ‘Is this going to work or not?’"