Boseman, Wright and Stan sat down to discuss how this will play out in Avengers: Infinity War and future Black Panther films.

Bucky is better, hopefully for good

The Winter Soldier’s appearance in Wakanda, and in Infinity War scenes preparing for battle alongside T’Challa, are especially surprising considering their bad history. It was only in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War that T’Challa was hunting Bucky down with intent to kill him because it appeared the brainwashed soldier had killed T’Challa and Shuri’s father.

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It turns out Bucky was framed and earned a rare Wakanda asylum to recover from his mental wounds and blown-up arm. In Panther, Bucky’s a changed man under Shuri’s care, with a serene look and a gentle man-bun hairstyle.

Wright describes “a friendship” between Bucky and Shuri, who even restores his arm with an artificial limb made of vibranium, the country’s powerful metal. The two bonded during the shoot, with Wright giving dance instructions.

“I tried to make him Milly Rock with his vibranium arm,” Wright laughs. “It was not quite successful.”

“Let’s say, I have not tested it out on Sunset Boulevard yet,” Stan says.

Stan won’t let on if the Wakanda cure will last for Bucky.

“It’s like, can you cure his brain? Anybody’s brain? You maybe make them handle their past a little bit better. I don’t know,” says Stan. “But I happen to be in the place that has the best of the best.”

The Panther stars were protective of Wakanda

T’Challa had every intention to open the country, but not to an attack from Infinity War’s supervillain Thanos. This brings a super collection of Avengers to do battle on the secretive grounds.

“We were not inviting trouble, that is for sure,” Boseman says.

For the actor, it was a welcome relief to reunite with his Civil War stars without the pressure of the intense Black Panther shoot.

“Black Panther was a hectic, rigorous set with literally no breath of fresh air ever,” he says. “So coming to a set where you don’t have to carry that same type of weight, and you can actually just be a part of this bigger thing, that was a relief to me.”

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The sight of all the heroes on the Wakanda sets, from Captain America to Iron Man, was strange for the other Black Panther cast members who are new to Avengers films. Boseman called for a huddle with Wright, Danai Gurira (Okoye) and Winston Duke (M’Baku).

“Watching them come into it, it was like, ‘Whoa. Calm down, it’s going to be cool,’ ” Boseman says.

“Excuse me for how I say this, but it’s just kind of what it is,” he explains. “We didn’t have any white people in Wakanda. So all of a sudden, it was like this whole world has changed. It’s like, what’s going on? As characters, I had to be like, ‘It’s OK, it’s fine. We opened our doors. They are visiting.’ As actors, we were visiting. It was that weird juxtaposition. We are new on the [Avengers] set. But at the same time, this is our territory.”

The Black Panther sequel is coming

It’s not official, but Black Panther 2 is a sure thing. It’s just a matter of when. Boseman and writer-director Ryan Coogler have batted around ideas.

“I have some things in mind. We’ve talked about it,” says Boseman. “But Ryan needs a rest, to recharge.”

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If Bucky is still recovering in Wakanda, Stan is game to continue.

“I would be happily involved in any way, shape or form,” he says. “I just hope I’m still around there after this film.”

Wright has her own ideas which, coincidentally, would favour Shuri.

“I think we should see a huge improvement on the technology side,” she says. “You haven’t seen nothing yet. We should have different types of cars and stuff. Just go in on the vibranium.”