The latest episode of behind-the-scenes show Marvel Studios Assembled hit Disney Plus this Wednesday in the form of a Black Panther: Wakanda Forever making-of special, which offers up a lot of fascinating details about the movie’s production that we never knew before. One of the highlights of the hour-long installment is definitely a never-before-seen screen test featuring Chadwick Boseman that packs a surprising emotional punch for a 30-second clip.
The Making of Black Panther; Wakanda Forever reveals that Riri Williams actress Dominique Thorne originally came on the filmmakers’ radar when she auditioned to play Shuri in the first movie. Although she ultimately lost out that part to Letitia Wright, now Black Panther herself following Boseman’s passing, Thorne still made a big enough impression on director Ryan Coogler and his team to get offered the part of Ironheart in the sequel.
To prove the point, the special unveils a snippet of her screen test as Shuri, in which Thorne got to act opposite the much-missed Boseman. Catch the clip below:
Seeing Boseman with one of the stars of Wakanda Forever, who sadly never ended up getting to appear with him in the movie, is a “bittersweet” experience for many.
On top of that, Boseman’s “Stand Up to Cancer” shirt gains a whole lot more significance now than it did at the time, seeing as the actor kept his own diagnosis private for several years.
Even when appearing in a screen test without any lines, Boseman’s boundless charisma can’t be denied.
Redditor albene put it best, though, with their remark that Boseman would likely approve of Thorne’s eventual casting as Riri. “Seeing him smile like that at her, he would have been so happy and proud of her in Wakanda Forever,” they wrote.
Although she didn’t get to play Shuri, it’s fair to say Dominique Thorne eventually found the perfect MCU role for her. Her very own Disney Plus series, Ironheart, is scheduled for fall 2023.