No one will be replacing Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, aka the Black Panther.
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige made the announcement this evening that the studio would not recast the part of the popular superhero in the wake of the tragic death of the actor in August after a battle with colon cancer. The announcement was made during Disney’s annual Investors Call in which the company rolled out a number of announcements for projects coming in 2021 and beyond.
I wanted to acknowledge the devastating loss of a dear friend and member of the Marvel Studios family. 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.
To honor 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.
The statement ends speculation that Marvel might either try to create a computer generated character for the film or place a new actor in the role.
It now falls to Black Panther writer/director Ryan Coogler to craft a sequel which will somehow explain the character’s absence while moving the franchise forward. Black Panther II is set for a July 8, 2022 release.
