First Time Chadwick Boseman Wore Black Panther Suit Was Magic Says Costumer
Costume designer, Ruth Carter, says the first time Chadwick Boseman wore the Black Panther suit was “like magic.” Boseman, who became a household following his role as King T’Challa in 2018’s Black Panther, passed away on August 28 after secretly battling colon cancer since 2016. Before playing the figurehead of a watershed moment for representation in comic book movies, Boseman took on other cultural icons such as Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in Get on Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall.
Carter, who won an Oscar in 2019 for her work designing Black Panther’s Wakanda, began working with Boseman on 2017’s Marshall. To portray the legendary Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Carter had Boseman watch YouTube videos of the period to get an idea of how people wore mid-century clothing. Despite not looking like Thurgood Marshall, Carter and Boseman’s collaboration helped the actor faithfully embody his character. While still shooting Marshall, Carter found out that she would be the costume designer for Black Panther; however, she decided to keep it a secret until the end of shooting. When she finally revealed to Boseman they would be working together on his next film, he smiled and told her he already knew.
Honoring Boseman, Carter told PEOPLE about the first time she saw Boseman wear his suit from Black Panther. A work-in-progress, and unaware of the immortality Boseman would wield wearing it, Carter recalls thinking the pants suit in her office (on a mannequin at the time) didn’t “look all that great.”
"I called Chadwick in and I asked him to put the suit on — we needed to see if there were any problems or anything,” said Cater. “And when he put on the suit and the helmet went on, it was like magic. I could see the power of these superheroes. I could see how they have an effect on people just because it's like they are a superhero."
That moment would prove to be the catalyst for the look that has inspired audiences around the world. Thanks to their previous collaboration on Marshall, an immense amount of trust permeated Carter and Boseman's work on Black Panther. Carter went on to share how Boseman never doubted her, always greeting her with “a smile, a hug, and cooperation.” Like Carter, an avid proponent of the Boys and Girls Club of America, Boseman’s sense of community encourages his friends and loved ones on a day-to-day basis.
Boseman’s inimitable poise, strength, and work ethic led to very few people outside of his immediate family, knowing he was ill, not even the cast and crew of Black Panther. In addition to Carter, many of Boseman’s Marvel coworkers, such as Kevin Feige, Ryan Coogler, and Michael B. Jordan, have honored him online. In retrospect, it certainly seems like no one else could’ve played the King of Wakanda except for Boseman. All of his contributions to that film, from his display of regality and leading the charge on “Wakanda Forever” to the way he wore the suit, Boseman’s magic makes him the Black Panther.
Source: PEOPLE