FOX 11's Christine Devine details Wakanda experience in memory of Chadwick Boseman

LOS ANGELES - "Wakanda Forever" we exclaimed with glee at the opening night of Black Panther in 2018! I'm rarely a movie-goer (blame it on working nights) but this was a movie I HAD to see at the theater on the big screen and wanted to financially support by BUYING tickets. I messaged an entourage of friends and youth I mentor and partnered up with others to be in on ensuring opening night was sold out! We fell in love with Chadwick Boseman as King T'Challa!

With the death of Boseman  my hope is that he knew how much he was beloved and appreciated for all of the characters he brought to life on screen. He became a household name for the Marvel superhero character but was beloved by for the true life stories he introduced to new generations and the real-life icons he made so human.

Sadly, the phenominal actor is gone too soon. The news of his death shocking Hollywood and fans across the globe. Boseman died of colon cancer after a four year battle with the disease. His family announcing the news on his twitter page Friday, August 28th saying "the movies from Marshall to Da 5 Bloods all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapies. He died at his home with his wife and children by his side." (While some reports have him at 43-years old, his IMDB page says 42.)

Boseman had played so many iconic roles from baseball icon Jackie Robinson who broke racial barriers, to Thurgood Marshall the first black Supreme Court Justice, to music legend James Brown in "Get on Up". It's the role in the Oscar winning film Black Panther (Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Original Score) that gave him icon status. Black Panther became the first comic book and superhero film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Marvel Studios which produced "Black Panther" tweeted a photo of Boseman as T'Challa with "our hearts our broken and our thoughts are with Chadwick Boseman's family. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest in peace."

Good Day LA movie critic Grae Drake was stunned by the news of his death. She calls Boseman a legend who's interpretation of roles, like Christopher Reeve in Superman, can't be replaced when re-played by future actors.

A strikingly thin Boseman posted on his instagram page in April with fans expressing concern about his health.

He was marking April 15th, Jackie Robinson Day calling Robinson his hero. "I can't think of a better time to remember my hero, the hero of many of you out there." Boseman played Robinson in the movie "42."

In that Instagram posting he also talked about the coronavirus saying "the African American community has been hit the hardest" and recognizing the hardships of the Latino community and front-line workers too.

Actress/Activist Anne-Marie Johnson who knew Boseman through the acting circuit called him "the Sindey Poitier of the 21st century." Johnson who is also an activist calls 2020 "the worst year." For Boseman to pass on "the day we are honoring Jackie Robinson... God has us doing some soul searching."

Boseman's co-stars and peers took to social media to remember him. His avengers co-star Chris Evans tweeted photos of himself with Boseman and the words "I'm absolutely devastated. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. He had so much amazing work still left to create. I am endlessly grateful for our friendship. Rest in power, king."

Director Ava Duvernay tweeted "may you have a beautiful return, king. We will miss you so."

With news of his death I texted my friends to call up the photos from our group movie night in 2018. I recall such an excitement in the air and the movie theater was alive. My friends were a mix of caucasion and black there to celebrate this black cast and all its glory. The costuming was phenominal. I loved the women warriers and all their girl-power. Who doesn't love Angela Bassett?!  And don't get me started on heartthrob Michael B. Jordan.

We were there to honor a chapter in movie history with this black cast. I brought one young man I mentored who'd been incarcerated. He and I had done years of empowerment work even going to juvenile hall and done many community service projects.  His father wasn't in his life much and I wanted him to see on screen black men who were heroes, kings, leaders and black women who were queens, scientists, healers, military leaders and protectors... and actors who commanded an entire film that would go on to the Oscars. 

We got to see Chadwick Boseman lead that movie and be amongst the best of the best in the Hollywood biz!