During this week’s Disney Investor Day presentation, Kevin Feige confirmed that Marvel Studios is pushing ahead with its plans for Black Panther II, but will not be recasting the role of T’Challa following the tragic death of actor Chadwick Boseman in August.
“I wanted to acknowledge the devastating loss of a dear friend and member of the Marvel Studios family,” said Feige, paying tribute to the star. “Chadwick Boseman was an immensely talented actor and an inspirational individual who affected all of our lives professionally and personally. His portrayal of T’Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel’s past. It’s for that reason that we will not recast the character.”
“However, to honour the legacy that Chad helped us build through his portrayal of the King of Wakanda, we want to continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film,” Feige continued. “Writer-director Ryan Coogler is hard at work on the sequel now, and we’ll bring the film to you in theaters July 8, 2022.”
While there’s no indication as yet as to how exactly Marvel will handle Boseman’s passing, it is expected that Letitia Wright’s Shuri will be given a “more substantial” role in the sequel, with fans speculating that she could inherit the mantle of the Black Panther from her on-screen brother.
