LOS ANGELES, Jan 19: Filmmaker Ryan Coogler, director of Marvel’s Black Panther, said actor Chadwick Boseman profoundly influenced his approach to life and work, sharing advice that continues to guide him nearly six years after Boseman’s death.

“When I look back at my relationship with him, it taught me so much. But the biggest thing is to not take things for granted,” Coogler said during a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast. “Even all of this, Amy — the success of [my new film, Sinners], being invited to the podcast with you, doing awards press with my cast. Before losing him, I would not be present in those moments. I would be overwhelmed or considering it to be work, or dealing with imposter syndrome.”

Coogler added that his self-doubting, preoccupied instincts have shifted “since losing him — because he would be the one to like snap me out of that.”

The director, who rose to prominence with his 2013 debut Fruitvale Station and solidified his reputation with the boxing drama Creed, was tapped by Marvel to direct the first feature-length adaptation of Black Panther. Boseman was cast as the titular superhero before Coogler joined the project, and their collaboration produced one of the most popular and commercially successful films of the past decade.

Coogler recalled how Boseman helped him navigate the pressures of directing Black Panther: “When I would be stressed on Panther, I would say, ‘Man, I gotta hurry up and do this or I’m gonna get fired.’ And he would say, ‘Hey, man, stop saying that.’ He actually pulled me to the side and was like, ‘Yo, stop saying that, man.’ I’m like, ‘No, I truly believe that.’ He was like, ‘Yo, I’m not going to let anything happen to you… I’m not letting nobody fire you, bro, [so] please stop saying that. Relax, man. Do your work, enjoy it.’”

“That very act of being present,” Coogler said, “helped me stabilize under pressure and finish the film. I think about that all the time. Even walking in here with you. Just being present — I literally learned that from him.”

After Boseman’s death in 2020 at age 43 from colon cancer, Coogler paid tribute to the actor, writing, “I had no idea if the film would work. I wasn’t sure I knew what I was doing. But I look back and realize that Chad knew something we all didn’t. He was playing the long game. All while putting in the work. And work he did.”

Boseman’s guidance, Coogler said, continues to shape his personal life and professional approach, emphasizing mindfulness, presence, and support for those around him.