
The fate of T’Challa and the Black Panther mantle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is once again at the center of discussions, with new reports surfacing about what’s next for Wakanda’s legendary protector.
Marvel Studios closed out Phase Four with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), a film that carried an emotional weight unlike anything seen before in the franchise. More than just another superhero epic, the film was a deeply personal tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, whose passing in 2020 shocked the world.
The decision not to recast T’Challa was met with mixed reactions. Some saw it as a heartfelt way to honor Boseman’s legacy, while others believed it was a misstep. A particularly vocal segment even called it “the biggest attack in Marvel history” and threatened to boycott the sequel. Despite the controversy, Wakanda Forever earned $859 million at the global box office—falling short of its predecessor’s $1.346 billion but still delivering a strong financial performance to wrap up Phase Four.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has confirmed that Black Panther 3 is officially in development. Producer Nate Moore, who will be leaving Marvel after Captain America: Brave New World (2025), is set to return for the project.
According to recent reports, Marvel is exploring the possibility of recasting T’Challa via a Multiversal twist. This would allow a new actor to take on the role of Wakanda’s king during the highly anticipated conclusion to The Multiverse Saga, which is expected to culminate with the Russo Brothers’ Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). That film will hit theaters a year after Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
Speaking of Doomsday, the movie will reportedly mark the official return of Robert Downey Jr., not as Tony Stark/Iron Man, but as Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom. However, rumors suggest the beloved actor might first make an appearance in a mid or post-credits scene for July’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The upcoming film, starring Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Susan Storm/Invisible Woman), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/Thing), and Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), recently debuted its first teaser trailer, adding more excitement to the MCU’s future.
As for Wakanda’s throne, rather than directly recasting Boseman’s T’Challa, Marvel may instead focus on an older version of his son, Toussaint, introduced in Wakanda Forever as the child of T’Challa and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o). Several names have already been floated for the potential “New T’Challa”, including John David Washington, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Aaron Pierre.
Another name entered the mix recently—Black Adam (2022) star Aldis Hodge. The actor, known for his portrayal of Hawkman in DC’s ill-fated Black Adam, is reportedly being considered by Marvel Studios for the role. However, if Hodge or any other actor takes on the mantle, it might not be as a variant of Boseman’s T’Challa, but rather Earth-616’s Toussaint stepping up to claim his birthright.
Amid the swirling speculation, Marvel Studios has officially addressed the potential recasting of T’Challa. Nate Moore, the executive who previously caused a stir in 2022 by referring to T’Challa/Black Panther as a “mantle”, recently spoke about the rumors.
“The truth is, there’s no truth to those rumors. Never say never to anything, we haven’t really had a lot of creative conversations with Ryan Coogler yet, because he’s finishing his film Sinners, which comes out this year,” Moore told ComicBook. “We’ll get into it later this year, but everything you read online is not true, if for no other reason than we just haven’t started [working on it].”
While Moore’s comments suggest Marvel is keeping its options open, the future of T’Challa remains uncertain. Whether through a Multiversal version of Boseman’s character or his son’s eventual rise to the throne, there’s still a chance that Black Panther’s legacy will continue in unexpected ways. With the Russo Brothers locked in for Doomsday and Secret Wars, along with conflicting reports from actors like Chris Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch, the next few years of the MCU remain shrouded in mystery.
Adding to the controversy, industry scooper My Time To Shine Hello has reported that Marvel has only met with “light-skinned” actors for the role of T’Challa. This claim has sparked backlash, though neither Marvel Studios nor The Walt Disney Company has confirmed it.
Given Moore’s assertion that creative discussions have yet to begin, this latest rumor appears to be just speculation.
How do you think Marvel should handle T’Challa’s future in the MCU? Let us know in the comments!