Whilst the legacy of Black Panther will continue, last Thursday, Marvel Studios announced that they won’t be recasting the character of Black Panther, played by the late and dear Chadwick Boseman.
Though the Black Panther franchise will continue, no one new will be replacing Boseman’s iconic role. As the head of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige shared, “Boseman’s portrayal of T’Challa in the Black Panther is iconic and transcends any iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel’s past, and it’s for that reason, that we will not re-act the character.”
Feige added, “However, to honor the legacy that Chad helped us build, we want to continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.”
Less than a month after its release, Black Panther made over a billion dollars worldwide. As for the sequel, it will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler and is set for debut on July 8th, 2022.
Boseman passed last August, aged 43, after fighting a private battle with colon cancer. Following his death, Coogler paid tribute to the actor and revealed that he had knowledge of Boseman’s illness.
Coogler wrote, “Because he was a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering.” Coogler then emotionally concludes, “He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art.”