A new face for this iconic role?
When Marvel Studios wrapped up Phase Four in 2022, fans were left grappling with uncertainty. Despite Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) shattering records, other theatrical releases fell short, and Disney+ series faced backlash even before airing. The MCU’s fourth chapter was anything but smooth.
Initially, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and The Marvels (2023)—now considered Phase Five’s biggest stumbles—were set to conclude Phase Four. Instead, that torch was passed to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). Tasked with wrapping up a turbulent era while launching Marvel’s Multiverse Saga, Ryan Coogler’s sequel to 2018’s Black Panther carried immense weight and controversy.
Chadwick Boseman’s tragic passing in 2020 sent shockwaves through Hollywood. Boseman’s portrayal of King T’Challa embodied the heart and soul of Black Panther. Following his death, Marvel Studios confirmed the role would not be recast, prompting widespread speculation about the franchise’s direction.
The Wakanda Forever teaser debuted at San Diego Comic-Con, underscored by Tems’ haunting rendition of Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry.” While emotionally charged, the absence of T’Challa sparked fierce debate. Some fans called it “the biggest attack in Marvel history” and even suggested boycotting the film. Ultimately, the sequel revealed Letitia Wright’s Shuri stepping into the mantle of Black Panther.
In 2022, a viral video reignited the controversy over T’Challa’s recasting. Marvel producer Nate Moore—who has since announced his departure but will continue working on Black Panther 3—described Black Panther as a “mantle,” a statement that polarized fans.
“Black Panther is the first Black hero in mainstream comics history. King T’Challa deserves to be back on screen and thrive across all mediums in the way Peter Parker, Bruce Wayne, and Clark Kent do,” one fan wrote.
Others echoed the sentiment, with one saying, “We know it’s a mantle, but no one ever cared about a mantle. Like, in 50 years of T’Challa storytelling, 2022 is the first year we are talking about a mantle.” Another went so far as to claim, “Black Panther franchise is over.”
Despite the uproar, Wakanda Forever earned $859 million globally—not quite matching Black Panther’s $1.346 billion but still outshining Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), which grossed $760 million.
Fast-forward two years, and the Black Panther franchise remains alive and well. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently confirmed Black Panther 3 is in development, with Nate Moore producing despite his forthcoming exit post-Captain America: Brave New World (2025).
New reports suggest T’Challa may return to the MCU. Jeff Sneider, via The Direct, claims Marvel is open to recasting T’Challa through a Multiversal event. “With Marvel reshuffling the deck in advance of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, and Robert Downey Jr. coming back not as Iron Man but as Doctor Doom, I’m told that the door is firmly open for T’Challa to be recast via the magic of the Multiverse,” Sneider’s scoop reads.
Others speculate a different direction. A conflicting report from My Time to Shine Hello suggests Marvel might cast an older actor to portray T’Challa’s son—introduced in Wakanda Forever—rather than recast the adult T’Challa.
Either way, it seems the Black Panther legacy will persist in Marvel’s Multiverse Saga. Both Black Panther and Wakanda Forever are available now on Disney+.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever features Letitia Wright (Shuri), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Dominique Thorne (Riri Williams), Angela Bassett (Queen Ramonda), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Florence Kasumba (Ayo), Michaela Coel (Aneka), Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), and Tenoch Huerta (Namor).
How do you feel about the potential return of T’Challa in the MCU? Let us know in the comments below!
