Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, also had a pivotal role in the production of the movie’s soundtrack. When working on the lead single, “Lift Me Up,” Coogler said he was in search of “a great artist who could tell the story of a film, embrace the themes of the film and present them to the audience” — much like Kendrick Lamar did in the first movie.
“It makes sense that it would be a woman, it made sense that it could be someone to speak to, not necessarily the words, but to the feeling of motherhood, because that’s a major, major theme in this film,” he said at a recent press conference. He noted it was well-timed that Rihanna, who eventually agreed to do the song, “was in that kind of space in her life.”
“Lift Me Up” marked the singer’s return to music after 2016’s ANTI, but make no mistake — jumping on the song was no act of charity. While Coogler is “super happy” with the end result, he said Rihanna made it clear why she decided to hop on board.
Coogler said, “The truth is, y’know, once when she played us the record…she said straight up, ‘I did this for Chad [Boseman].'”
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premieres in theaters Friday, November 11. Rihanna has another single on the soundtrack, “Born Again,” that’s dropped to accompany the film’s release.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Related Posts
In Brazil, Madonna sets record for largest stand-alone concert in history
May 5, 2024
PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty ImagesMadonna capped her Celebration Tour with a free show at the…
Dua Lipa gives us “everything” as host and musical guest on ‘Saturday Night Live’
May 5, 2024
Rosalind O'Connor/NBC via Getty ImagesDua Lipa pulled double duty on Saturday Night Live on May 4,…
Adam Driver is a man literally on the edge in tease to Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’
May 4, 2024
ABCOn Saturday morning, May 4, legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola dropped a tease to his…
May the cash be with you: Julien’s putting massive trove of ‘Star Wars’ stuff on the auction block
May 3, 2024
Julien's AuctionsTimed in anticipation of May 4's Star Wars Day, Julien's Auctions and Turner…
New Music Friday: Meghan Trainor, Sia and more
May 3, 2024
This week's New Music Friday features new singles from big names and notable album releases from…
NBC renews ‘Night Court’ reboot for a third season
May 3, 2024
NBC/Nicole WeingartNight Court will stay in session at NBC. The network announced on May 3 that the…
Nicholas Galitzine on how BTS inspired his role in ‘The Idea of You’
May 3, 2024
Alisha Wetherill/PrimeNicholas Galitzine plays Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of the fictional boy…
Fourth season of ‘Emily In Paris’ will be split in two
May 3, 2024
Netflix/Stephanie BranchuOn Friday, May 3, the cast of Netflix's Emily In Paris teased the show's…