Chadwick Boseman, who had been battling cancer for some time, died in August 2020. It was a secret that the actor kept from most people. Marvel had to deal with the death of Chadwick Boseman and grieve his loss. Black Panther This was the sequel that had a problem. Fans started wondering whether the studio would recast T’Challa or pass the Black Panther baton to a different actor.
In mid-December 2020, we learned that Wakanda ForeverA new Black Panther would be introduced. That’s when Marvel announced it would not recast T’Challa, implying that Wakanda would have to deal with losing their king. Just as the real world dealt with Boseman’s passing. The future is bright Wakanda ForeverPremiere, Kevin Feige explains why Marvel did not recast the role. Remember, Some spoilers may be found below.
The new Black Panther
We’ve witnessed two opposite stances on Wakanda Forever’s Black Panther since Boseman’s passing. Initially, most fans urged Marvel and Disney not to recast T’Challa in the sequel. Fans argued that the MCU should pay tribute to T’Challa and move on to another Black Panther.
The story could be adapted to account for Boseman’s tragic passing. Older rumors claimed that Marvel wanted Shuri, Letitia Wright, to replace her brother. This was before Boseman’s death, however.
As time went by, another current emerged. Black Panther fans wanted Marvel to recast T’Challa. It was the same purpose; to honor the character. Despite Boseman’s tragic passing, fans still wanted the character in the MCU.
Such a decision could make anyone feel very uncomfortable. There’s no way to satisfy these wishes simultaneously. Marvel already chose to continue the story with another Black Panther hero.
However, the identity of this new Black Panther is still a mystery.
Why Marvel didn’t recast T’Challa for Wakanda Forever
Talking To Empire about the sequel, Feige addressed the T’Challa recast. Marvel’s highest-ranking executive explained the reason behind this decision.
“It just felt like it was much too soon to recast,” Marvel’s president said. He compared the T’Challa recast decision to Marvel’s approach to comics.
“Stan Lee always said that Marvel represents the world outside your window,” Feige continued. “And we had talked about how, as extraordinary and fantastical as our characters and stories are, there’s a relatable and human element to everything we do. The world is still processing the loss of Chad. And Ryan poured that into the story.”
“The conversations were entirely about, yes, ‘What do we do next?’” he continued. “And how could the legacy of Chadwick – and what he had done to help Wakanda and the Black Panther become these incredible, aspirational, iconic ideas – continue? That’s what it was all about.”
That doesn’t mean the T’Challa recast is off the table. The multiverse is vast and full of T’Challa variants that might come into contact with the MCU’s primary reality. But that’s just speculation for now.
In the meantime, we’ll find out who the next Black Panther is on November 11th when Wakanda Forever premieres.
More Marvel coverage: For more MCU news, visit our Marvel guide.