Ryan Coogler Admits He Took Chadwick Boseman for Granted — His Biggest Black Panther Regret
On November 20, 2025, Black Panther icon Chadwick Boseman was posthumously honored with the 2,828th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — and director Ryan Coogler marked the moment by opening up about the regret he still carries over his leading man.
Chadwick Boseman just got the kind of Hollywood honor that somehow still feels overdue, and it came with a story that hits like a truck.
A Walk of Fame honor with a gut-punch of a memory
On November 20, 2025, Boseman was awarded the 2,828th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a posthumous tribute to the Black Panther icon. At the ceremony, director Ryan Coogler spoke publicly about him in a way he hasn't before — and shared the one thing he wishes he hadn't done.
Coogler told the crowd about a simple copper bracelet Boseman once gave him. He didn't think he could wear it, and in the most Boseman move imaginable, Chad took Coogler's hand and bent the metal around his wrist right then and there. Coogler said he's never been strong enough to bend it himself. And here's the part that stings: he took the bracelet off, stashed it in Bay Area storage, and figured he'd save it for a special day — assuming, as we all do, that there'd be endless time to share more moments with a friend.
"I took him for granted. I figured he would always be around. I figured I would wear it for a special day. It ended up being today."
He wore the bracelet to Boseman's ceremony. It's a tiny, very human detail, and it says more about their bond — and Coogler's regret — than any big speech ever could.
How Boseman's loss reshaped Coogler's priorities
In a New York Times conversation, Coogler said losing Boseman rewired how he thinks about time, opportunity, and the kind of work he wants to put into the world. The suddenness of it all pushed him to stop waiting and move faster on projects that matter to him — including his film Sinners. As he put it, there was a real fear of everything being taken away before he could open up more to the audience that's supported him. That fear blended with gratitude. Now he's leaning into both — appreciating the present, staying in touch with friends and collaborators (yes, even carving out time to catch up with Chloé Zhao), and not assuming tomorrow is guaranteed.
After Black Panther 3: maybe a breather
Coogler is all-in on Black Panther 3 — he's "fired up" about it — but he's also starting to picture what life looks like on the other side. When he talks about it, you can practically see the image: a green meadow at dawn, Bay Area fog rolling across open land. In other words, a little space to breathe after years of heavy lifts and studio pressure.
Michael B. Jordan gets it. He can see Coogler taking time to recharge, be with his kids, and, inevitably, get restless again. For now, Coogler isn't locking anything in. He likes not knowing what's next — it makes the possibilities feel bigger. Black Panther 3 is expected to land in 2028.
Quick refresher: Black Panther (2018)
- Director: Ryan Coogler
- Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright
- Rotten Tomatoes: 96% critics, 79% audience
- Runtime: 2h 14m
Think Black Panther 3 can keep the streak going? I'm cautiously optimistic — especially if Coogler brings that same mix of urgency and gratitude he's talking about now. Let me know where you&aposre at on it.