Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has been filming for several months now, and its potential lead star has already been through the ringer in more ways than one.
Letitia Wright is diving into the Marvel action even further as she signed a multi-picture deal with Marvel Studios to continue on as T’Challa’s sister Shuri, starting with her fourth MCU appearance in the upcoming Black Panther sequel.
Since shooting began for Wakanda Forever in late June, the young actress has already wiped out on set while performing stunts, and she had to be hospitalized for the injuries she sustained. But she also spent some time in the social media hot seat when she voiced her concerns over the COVID-19 vaccine.
The star claimed that her intention was “not to hurt anyone” while voicing her opinion about “what the vaccine contains.” And now, it seems Wright is continuing to let people know where she stands during the ongoing pandemic.
Black Panther Star Promoting Anti-Vax Sentiments
In a new report from The Hollywood Reporter regarding Hollywood's division over the COVID-19 vaccine, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Letitia Wright was singled out for publicly sharing anti-vaccine ideals online.
The report elaborated on Wright's opposition to the COVID-19 vaccine, stating that a set source on the Black Panther 2 production claims that Wright was "espousing" her views about the COVID-19 vaccine on set in Atlanta.
The Hollywood Reporter explained that this is likely in response to Disney's new company-wide sticker system that requires proof of an individual's COVID-19 vaccination status. This stipulation was part of the agreement between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and Hollywood’s unions that allowed the industry to keep running amid the ongoing pandemic.
The new guidelines state that Disney will require a wristband to identify a fully vaccinated individual. Those who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not wear a wristband.
The report clarified that this does not apply to any project already in production, which would include Letitia Wright's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that has been filming since June 2021.
UPDATE (May 23rd, 2022):
Letitia Wright has recently spoken about the difficulties with filming Black Panther 2, likely surrounding her on set anti-vaccination controversies.
Letitia Wright Disagrees with Disney
Letitia Wright made her opinion known regarding the COVID-19 vaccine some time ago, clarifying that she was mostly concerned about learning what components make up the vaccine before “putting [it] in our bodies.”
But now, it seems Wright has taken her efforts a step further and has discussed the matter openly on the set of Black Panther 2, promoting the unspecified anti-vaccination rhetoric while at work on the film.
With her new Marvel contract in mind, Wright is putting a lot on the line as she openly disagrees with Disney’s new COVID-19 vaccination guidelines. And although the House of Mouse stayed on the sideline when the Wakanda Forever star took to Twitter to express her concerns, things may look different for Wright now that the company has an official plan in place as they continue to navigate through the ongoing pandemic.
