As the fifth anniversary of Chadwick Boseman’s passing looms, actress Letitia Wright offered a heartfelt reflection on the enduring emotional weight of his absence.
Wright, best known for her role as Shuri in Black Panther, shared an Instagram Story on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, recalling how the week around Aug. 28 has remained difficult each year. She wrote, “This week. Every year since 2020. Is a tough one,” and added, “But always a time of reflection, taking time to appreciate the beautiful soul of my brother.”
The actor also shared photos of Boseman during his college years at Howard University. Her words and images conveyed both sorrow and deep gratitude.
Grief and Unresolved Goodbyes
Wright has previously described struggling after his death, saying she fell into a “downward spiral.” She attributed much of that struggle to her inability to say goodbye in person at his private memorial, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. “It haunted me for months that I couldn’t say goodbye to him or be around my Black Panther family to share in that moment,” she told Variety.
She also recalled being in her London apartment when she first learned of his passing. She said Daniel Kaluuya’s silence on the phone confirmed the worst before she cried out and raged in grief.
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), Wright’s character, Shuri, steps into the role of Black Panther. The film opens with Boseman’s character’s off-screen death and includes an emotionally resonant title card tribute to the actor. In a mid-credits flashback, Shuri confronts her loss through memory. “I always carried him in every scene,” Wright said. “He meant everything to me, and he’s the reason why I’m here.”
The cast and crew embraced the film as a platform to honor Boseman. Director Ryan Coogler said they “came to know [him] through the work,” while Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira emphasized how grief, loss and healing shaped the narrative.
Wright continues to honor Boseman’s memory not just through film, but in her public reflections. In this Instagram post, she again expressed her admiration, calling him “a beautiful soul.”
With the next Avengers installment slated for 2026, Wright will reprise her role as Shuri.