Ryan Coogler has revealed what the orignial plan was for Black Panther 2 prior to Chadwick Boseman's death. Via the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler shared that the story originally centered around T'Challa (Boseman) and his son, Toussaint.

Hollywood

Director Ryan Coogler has disclosed details about his original script for Black Panther 2, which was written before the death of Chadwick Boseman. The initial story focused on T'Challa reconnecting with his son after the events of Avengers: Endgame, featuring a significant 'Ritual of Eight' and an attack by Namor. Following Boseman's passing, Coogler rewrote the film to focus on Shuri and themes of grief.

The news segment also highlighted James Cameron's plans for the Avatar franchise, noting that he may reveal his ideas for Avatar 4 and 5 or write them as novels if the films are not produced. Additionally, Marvel released a new Avengers Doomsday trailer featuring Thor, with the storyline appearing to emphasize the importance of children in the upcoming film.

Ryan Coogler reveals details of original Black Panther 2 Script

What's up everybody. Damien here, and in today's entertainment news, Ryan Coogler shows a few details on what his original Black Panther Two script was like. James Cameron has a plan for what to do with Avatars four and five, even if he doesn't get to make them. And a new Avengers doomsday trailer has arrived. This is your Daily Fix. This is your Daily Fix. Black Panther writer and director, Ryan Coogler, has shared details on what the script for Black Panther Two was like before the death of star Chadwick Boseman. Boseman died in August 2020, aged 43. He played T'Challa, Black Panther, first in 2016's Captain America Civil War, 2018's Black Panther and Avengers Infinity War, 2019's Endgame, and then 2022's Black Panther Wakanda Forever via archival footage. Speaking on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler said that he had finished the 180 page draft for Black Panther Two and asked Boseman to check it out, but he was too sick to read it. Coogler has spoken in the past about the initial pitch for the movie, which would have been a post-blip story featuring Boseman's T'Challa returning after the events of Endgame in a five year absence and reconnecting with his son. Coogler said, the big thing about the script was there was this thing called the Ritual of Eight, where when a prince is eight years old, he has to go spend eight days in the bush with his father without any tools. The prince has to listen to and do everything that's asked of him by his father, but the rule is for those eight days, the prince can ask the father any question and the father has to answer. And during the course of those eight days, Namor launches an attack. That was what the movie was. It was a different version of Namor in that script, but he had to deal with somebody who was insanely dangerous, but because of this ritual, his son had to be joined at his hip the whole time. The loss of Boseman radically changed the future of the franchise and Coogler rewrote the movie to address his death and focus on T'Challa's sister, Shuri, instead. Wakanda Forever ended up being a movie as much about grief as it was moving the MCU forward or leading to the events of Black Panther 3, which Coogler signed up to direct. Sounds like it's a long way off though. Coogler said he's currently working on an X-Files revival for television and Black Panther 3 comes after that. Moving on, Avatar creator James Cameron has said he'll hold a press conference and tell the world what he would have done with Avatar 4 and 5 if he doesn't get the chance to make the movies. Or the legendary writer and director has said he'll write Avatar novels himself, although he's not convinced anyone will read them. Avatar Fire and Ash is now up to $760 million at the global box office as the Disney sci-fi sequel heads towards one billion. While that's a huge amount of money for any movie, just two weekends in theaters, questions remain over whether Avatar 3 will end up making enough money theatrically to convince Disney to greenlight 4 and 5. These special effects-heavy Avatar films cost a huge amount of money to produce, but they have historically made billions. Avatar 1 remains the highest-grossing movie of all time, not adjusted for inflation, and has earned a staggering 2.9 billion across several theatrical runs. The Way of Water earned 2.3 billion, meanwhile, cementing it as the third-highest-grossing film of all time just ahead of Cameron's own Titanic. Avatar 4 currently has a December 21, 2029 release date, with Avatar 5 due out December 19, 2031. Cameron, now 71, will be close to 80 years old by the time it all wraps up. Now, speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Cameron had words of caution about continuing the franchise, despite the fact Disney has set release dates for Avatars 4 and 5. He said, If we don't get to make 4 and 5 for whatever reason, I'll hold a press conference and I'll tell you what we were gonna do. How's that? An alternative is to write Avatar novels going into significant detail on the world and telling the stories of the sequels. He said, There's so much culture and backstory and lateral detail in these characters that's been worked out. I'd love to do something that's at that level of granular detail. However, there's no business model for it anymore. People aren't reading. But anyway, it might be good to have the canonical record of what it was all supposed to be. According to EW, that's a reference to recent research from the University of Florida and University College London that states the proportion of people reading for pleasure daily in the United States has declined by more than 40% over the last 20 years. So we'll see if the Avatar saga continues to play out on the big screen or the little pages. Fire and Ash is currently the number six movie on the 2025 worldwide box office list. And finally today, Marvel has officially released the Thor-themed Avengers Doomsday trailer online. It launched in theaters last week ahead of Disney's Avatar Fire and Ash, replacing the Steve Rogers Captain America trailer that had kicked off the Doomsday hype train a year out from the movie's release. The teaser shows Chris Hemsworth's Thor, this time with the short-haired look from the much-loved and hugely successful Thor Ragnarok, praying to his father, Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins in the MCU, calling for the strength of the All-Fathers so he may fight once more, defeat one more enemy, and return home to her. That's a reference to Thor's adopted daughter, Love, Gor the God Butcher's resurrected daughter from Thor Love Thunder. What we've seen so far of Avengers Doomsday does seem to revolve around children. The Fantastic Four first steps ended with Robert Downey Jr.'s Dr. Doom appearing to kidnap Franklin Richards. The Steve Rogers and Captain America teaser shows Chris Evans' character holding a baby, presumably his child with Peggy Carter. Anyway, have a look at the new teaser for Avengers Doomsday. Father, all my life, I have answered every call to honor, duty, to war. But now fate has given me something I never sought. A child, a life untouched by the storm, lend me the strength of the All-Fathers so that I may fight once more, defeat one more enemy, and return home to her, not as a warrior, but as a wolf. To teach her not battle, but stillness, a kind I never knew. Please, Father, heed my words. And that is your Daily Fix for Tuesday, December 30th. Now that you're caught up on the news, check out a new teaser trailer for what's coming in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. I'm Damon Hatfield, and for all your gaming and entertainment news, stay tuned to IGN.

President Trump says the U.S. "knocked out" a "big facility" last week linked to alleged drug boat operations. Unlike previous operations at sea, this strike occurred on Venezuelan territory, though the president did not disclose specific details about the timing, location, or the party responsible for the attack.

Washington

Trump says U.S. launched strike on boat dock inside Venezuela

Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy and an environmental journalist, has died at the age of 35 following a battle with cancer, the JFK Library Foundation announced Tuesday.

New York

Tatiana Schlossberg, JFK's granddaughter, dies at 35

The United Arab Emirates says it's withdrawing its remaining forces from Yemen. The move comes after Saudi Arabia bombed a port in Yemen, saying it targeted an arms shipment intended for a UAE-backed separatist force.

Al Mukalla

Saudi Arabia bombs port in Yemen

In an overnight strike, the Saudi military hit a Yemeni port saying they were neutralising a weapons shipments arriving from UAE. The UAE has denied the shipment contained weapons and claimed the vehicles were not intended for any groups. Both countries have supported the fighting sides in the over-decade long war in Yemen, but this strike has turned this rivalry into an open dispute.

The UAE denies shipping weapons to Yemen after overnight Saudi strike

The Kremlin said Tuesday it would toughen its negotiating position in talks on ending the war in Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of attacking a Russian presidential residence — an allegation that Kyiv said was baseless and intended to prolong the conflict.

Moscow

Russia will toughen negotiating stance on war in Ukraine

China fired rockets into waters off northern and southern Taiwan on Tuesday (December 30) and deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside bomber aircraft and destroyers on the second day of its most extensive war games.

Taipei City

China fires rockets towards Taiwan in war games simulating blockade

President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed an alleged drug-related site was targeted during a recent strike, saying, "they load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area." Trump did not say when the strike happened or exactly where.

Caracas

U.S. strike hits Venezuelan port facility

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight 370 that went missing in 2014 with 239 people on board is expected to resume Tuesday (December 30). The Malaysian government and a private marine robotics company say they will use advances in technology to aid in the search.

Kuala Lumpur

Search resumes for Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared in 2014

The two countries have agreed to hold fire, freeze troop movements and allow civilians to return home under a new agreement.

Krong Poi Pet

Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire holds as 72-hour observation period ends

Head of Yemen's presidential council, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, says UAE-backed forces in the country should leave within 24 hours.

Yemen’s presidential council cancels UAE defence deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States could support another major strike on Iran were it to resume rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs and warned Hamas of severe consequences if it does not disarm.

Florida

Middle East Conflict

Trump warns Iran of possible strike, urges Hamas to disarm

U.S. hit an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs, Trump says, as Pentagon carries out another deadly strike in the Pacific. This claim follows a series of U.S. strikes on boats in the Eastern Pacific, raising the total number of known strikes to 31 and resulting in over 100 deaths.

Trump claims attack on a dock in Venezuela, strikes kill two in Pacific

The Taiwanese government says it has placed its forces on alert as China intensifies its military presence in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and launches air, navy and rocket drills around the island.

Taiwan's forces on alert as China launches military drills

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is denying Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s claim that Ukraine tried to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy denies Russian claim that Ukraine targeted Putin’s residence

President Trump said after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas must disarm soon or "there will be hell to pay." He said the next phase of the Gaza peace plan could move forward quickly if Hamas disarms.

Trump warns "hell to pay" if Hamas doesn't disarm

CBC’s Kris Reyes highlights the biggest AI advancements in 2025 along with the continued calls to establish clear boundaries in an effort to prevent misuse.

DeepSeek and the biggest AI advancements in 2025

Russia accused Ukraine on Monday (December 29) of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia, although it provided no evidence to back up an assertion that Kyiv dismissed as baseless and designed to undermine peace negotiations.

Russia claims Ukraine tried to attack Putin residence

Two helicopters collided above Hammonton, New Jersey, and one person has died, officials say. CBS News' Elaine Quijano reports.

Hammonton

Helicopters collide in New Jersey

U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday (December 29) as questions linger about the future of the U.S.-backed ceasefire in Gaza.

Palm Beach

Trump and Netanyahu meet in Florida to discuss Gaza ceasefire

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua was involved in a road accident on Monday in Makun, Ogun State, south-west Nigeria.

Makun

British boxer Anthony Joshua survives car crash that killed two others

In a new show of force, China has mobilized its navy, air force, and ground troops to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports. The military drill comes on the heels of an $11bn US arms sale to Taipei.

China stages new military exercises around Taiwan

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin truly want peace as he and Zelenskyy met in Florida. Some experts say Trump is 'delusional' if he truly thinks Putin wants peace.

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting ends with optimism but no deal

Although the U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine have been "100% agreed," they have a short expiration date, the Ukrainian president explained after revealing more details following his meeting with Trump on Sunday.

U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine set for 15 years, Zelenskyy says

China's military moved army, naval, air force and artillery units around Taiwan on December 29 for its "Justice Mission 2025" drills, as the island vowed to defend democracy and mobilized troops to rehearse repelling a potential Chinese attack.

China launches 'Justice Mission 2025' war games around Taiwan

President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday. Trump said he thinks both men are ready for peace.

Trump meets with Zelenskyy, insists Putin is ready for peace

Far-right politics have pushed further into the mainstream across much of Europe. Populist parties, even in opposition, are shaping national debates on migration and the economy. The trend reflects growing voter frustration over living costs, borders and political trust.

Berlin

Far-right politics gaining influence across Europe

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is set to discuss a new peace plan draft with U.S. President Trump in Florida on Sunday (December 28). However, fresh Russian attacks on Kyiv have left a third of the city without power, undermining local confidence.

Kyiv residents fear escalation amid Zelenskyy-Trump peace talks

A report has sought to catalogue some of the most significant extreme weather events of the year. UK charity Christian Aid found that heatwaves are pushing the limits of human adaptation, hurricanes and typhoons are breaking records, and droughts are devastating lives across the globe. It's all coming at a heavy financial cost.

Top 10 natural disasters cost over $120 billion in 2025, report says

Russia attacked Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones on Saturday, ahead of what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said would be a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to work out a plan to end nearly four years of war.

Russian drones, missiles pound Kyiv ahead of Zelenskiy-Trump meeting

French actor Brigitte Bardot has died aged 91, her foundation said on Sunday (December 28). She shot to international fame dancing the mambo barefoot in "And God Created Woman," her tousled hair and fierce energy radiating a sexual magnetism rarely before seen in mainstream cinema.

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