Several months after his death, and the passing of Chadwick Boseman still feels raw. His final movie, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, has just been released, and it's now been confirmed by Disney that Boseman won't be recast in Marvel's Black Panther 2.
The nature of the T'Challa role has been at the forefront of fans' minds since Boseman died. The announcement came via Disney on Twitter, who also revealed a surplus of additional Marvel news, including the Ant-Man 3 title. Lovecraft Country's Jonathan Majors was also locked in as Kang the Conqueror.
Disney also confirmed Black Panther 2's release date on 8th July 2022, with Ryan Coogler returning to direct.
Black Panther 2, opening July 8, 2022, is being written & directed by Ryan Coogler. Honoring Chadwick Boseman’s legacy & portrayal of T’Challa, @MarvelStudios will not recast the character, but will explore the world of Wakanda & the rich characters introduced in the first film.
— Disney (@Disney) December 11, 2020
Speculation had been rife that Letitia Wright would take on the mantle. Her character Shuri emerged in the first Black Panther movie as a valuable ally to her brother, T'Challa. It remains to be seen how Disney and Marvel Studios will navigate Boseman's absence.
Either way, the film stands as a critical chapter in Marvel Phase 5. Stay tuned to the blog and on Twitter @Cineworld for more details.