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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever stars sparkle at European premiere

Getty Images Lupita Nyong'oGetty Images
Lupita Nyong'o plays Nakia in the film series

The cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever have attended the film's European premiere in London.

Stars including Michaela Coel, Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong'o walked the red carpet for the hugely anticipated sequel to the superhero film.

Coel told the BBC: "The feeling it gives me, as a woman of colour, to see my story reflected back still gives me a rush of exhilaration to be seen.

"This cast give me a lot of confidence, I feel proud to be among them."

Getty Images Michaela CoelGetty Images
I May Destroy You star Michaela Coel plays new character Aneka in Wakanda Forever
Getty Images Danai GuriraGetty Images
Danai Gurira attended Thursday's premiere

The 2018 release of Black Panther is one of the most profitable movies of all time. The Marvel Studios production made more than £1bn at the box office.

It was the first superhero film to receive an Oscar nomination for best picture. In total it was nominated seven times, winning three for original score, costume design and production design.

The franchise has been praised for its strong portrayal of black characters.

PA Media Letitia Wright attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverPA Media
British actress Letitia Wright sparkled on the red carpet
PA Media Florence Kasumba attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverPA Media
Florence Kasumba plays Ayo in the film

Returning actress Danai Gurira, who plays Okoye, said she hoped Black Panther "paves the way" for other franchisees to cast strong black female leads.

She described filming as an "intense process" following the death of actor Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020 from colon cancer.

Director Ryan Coogler came up with a plot that could reflect the 43-year-old's death which Lupita Nyong'o said would "really resonate with people".

PA Media Zinzi Evans and Ryan Coogler attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverPA Media
Director Ryan Coogler has found a way to continue the franchise without Chadwick Boseman
PA Media Khaby Lame wears a shirt with a picture of Chadwick Boseman as he attends the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverPA Media
Social media superstar Khaby Lame revealed a picture of Boseman beneath his shirt

"Respecting Chadwick and what he started us off is the way forward," Nyong'o told BBC News. "Ryan was so smart to embrace the loss and make this film about what we do when we lose somebody because we all experience it at one point.

"The honesty with it will surprise people and the fact you can do that without compromising on the fun, and the spectacle, is a feat and I'm really proud."

The first film starred Boseman as the crime-fighting ruler of Wakanda, a fictional African nation with the most advanced technology on earth.

More than 170 million viewers watched the trailer for its follow-up, Wakanda Forever, in the first 24 hours after its release.

PA Media Stormzy attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverPA Media
Stormzy wore a bright pink suit to the premiere
PA Media Cynthia Erivo attending the European premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverPA Media
Oscar-nominated actress and singer Cynthia Erivo was among the other guests

Last week Rihanna released her first single in six years which is taken from the soundtrack of the new film.

Coogler said Rihanna's involvement in the project was to honour Boseman.

"Honestly, I think it was Chad," he said. "A lot of improbable things needed to happen for it to come through and Rihanna was very clear that she did that for him."

Other celebrities at the premiere included Stormzy, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Maya Jama.