Disney Won't Recast Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa
Wakanda Forever!
In August, our lives changed forever with the news of Chadwick Boseman’s death from colon cancer at just age 43. He fought his battle privately for several years, including while filming several movies, one of which was Marvel’s Black Panther movie, released in 2018, where he played the title character: T’Challa, the Black Panther.
One of the big questions in the Marvel fanbase was, what would happen to Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa? Marvel Studios had already announced that they were planning a Black Panther 2, and the planning has been underway already with a tentative release date of July 2022. Fans took to the internet pleading that Marvel Studios not replace Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa in honor of his memory. It would not be the same recasting a role that helped so many. Boseman provided such an amazing portrayal of the classic comic book character.
Recently, on Disney Investor Day 2020, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced news about the iconic character’s future on the screen. To honor the late actor, Disney and Marvel Studios will officially not recast Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa in the next Black Panther movie. This announcement ended any speculation and also put many fans’ minds at ease. The beloved T’Challa actor would not be replaced.
Kevin Feige went on to talk about how much Chadwick Boseman meant to the Marvel Universe, citing the “devastating loss of a dear friend and a member of the Marvel Studios family."
Kevin Feige continued:
“Chadwick Boseman was an immensely talented actor and an inspirational individual who affected all of our lives. His portrayal of T'Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends any iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel's past. It's for that reason we will not recast the character."
However, this did open up the question of what the next Black Panther movie is actually going to be about and who will play the title role, if there is one. Kevin Feige only hinted at their ideas so far, saying “to honor the legacy that Chadwick helped us build," the studio will "continue to explore" the world of Wakanda "and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film."
In the Marvel comic books, just like with Captain America, there are storylines where different people take up the mantel of the Black Panther. T’Challa is not the only one. In one popular storyline, Shuri, T’Challa’s sister, takes up the mantel of the Black Panther. Many fans are hoping that this will be the case as we all fell in love with Shuri (played by Letitia Wright) in the first movie and then again in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Fans would like to see more of her character and see her grow in her role and perhaps, under the mantel of Black Panther.
With Chris Evans retiring as Captain America after Avengers: Endgame and Anthony Mackie (The Falcon) taking up the mantle, it would make sense that Marvel would go with another switch around of title characters. At the same time, they are still paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman’s memory.
Whatever the case may be as to what will happen with the title of Black Panther, one thing is for certain: Marvel Studios will not be doing anything to hide or get rid of Chadwick Boseman’s acclaimed performance as T’Challa. He will live on forever in our hearts.
Black Panther 2 is currently being written and directed by Ryan Coogler with an estimated release date of July 8, 2022. Kevin Feige said in the meeting that Ryan Coogler was already hard at work on the second film.
Source(s): USA Today