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Replacements Revealed for Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther Role: Report

A new chapter may be opening for the beloved King of Wakanda—or so the rumors suggest.

Chadwick Boseman as the Black Panther King T'Challa
Credit: Marvel Studios

When Marvel Studios wrapped up Phase Four in 2022, the reaction from fans was…mixed, to say the least. While Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) delivered box office glory and nostalgia galore, the rest of the phase struggled to find its footing. Theatrical releases fell short of expectations, leaving Marvel in a precarious position. Phase Four didn’t just stumble—it sparked a storm of criticism.

Initially, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and The Marvels (2023)—both now considered Phase Five flops—were slated to cap off Phase Four. Instead, that responsibility shifted to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). Tasked with concluding a divisive chapter of the MCU, Ryan Coogler’s follow-up to the groundbreaking Black Panther (2018) also bore the enormous weight of honoring the late Chadwick Boseman.

Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa in 'Black Panther'
Credit: Marvel Studios

The unexpected passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020 left an unfillable void in Hollywood and the hearts of Marvel fans worldwide. Boseman’s portrayal of King T’Challa was more than a role; it was a cultural touchstone. When Marvel Studios announced they would not recast the character, the decision ignited a passionate debate about the franchise’s future without its king.

At San Diego Comic-Con 2022, the teaser trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premiered, offering an emotional glimpse into the film’s direction. While the footage left fans teary-eyed, it also left them with lingering questions. Some critics even branded the absence of T’Challa “the biggest attack in Marvel history,” with a small contingent threatening to boycott the sequel. Ultimately, Letitia Wright’s Shuri took up the mantle, carrying forward her brother’s legacy in Wakanda.

Nakia, Shuri, and Okoye (left to right) in Black Panther Wakanda Forever promo poster marvel
Credit: Marvel Studios

As the release of Wakanda Forever approached, the T’Challa controversy hit a fever pitch. A resurfaced interview with Marvel producer Nate Moore, who recently announced his departure from Marvel Studios, only added fuel to the fire. Moore referred to Black Panther as a “mantle,” a term that many fans found dismissive of T’Challa’s significance.

“Black Panther is the first Black hero in mainstream comics history,” one fan wrote online. “King T’Challa deserves to be back on screen and thrive across all mediums in the way Peter Parker Spider-Man, Bruce Wayne Batman, and Clark Kent Superman do.”

Another added, “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.” A bolder critique declared, “Black Panther franchise is over.”

Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022)
Credit: Marvel Studios

Despite the uproar, Wakanda Forever silenced doubters with a solid $859 million global haul. While it fell short of the original film’s $1.346 billion, it was still a standout in a phase marked by general unreliability.

Fast-forward to today, and the future of Wakanda seems brighter than ever. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently confirmed that Black Panther 3 is officially in development, with Nate Moore still attached as a producer despite his planned exit after Captain America: Brave New World (2025).

But what’s next for T’Challa? New reports suggest Marvel may be exploring a Multiversal recast. According to insider Jeff Sneider, “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.”

Tony Stark works on building the first suit
Credit: Marvel Studios

This move could allow a new actor to step into the role, echoing Downey Jr.’s return as Victor Von Doom. For fans disillusioned by T’Challa’s absence, this might just be the spark they’ve been waiting for.

Meanwhile, conflicting reports from My Time To Shine Hello suggest Marvel might go in a different direction, potentially introducing an older actor to play T’Challa’s son, who was revealed in Wakanda Forever.

According to new reports from My Time To Shine Hello, “Some of the actors Marvel Studios is/was considering to play ‘New T’Challa’ are: John David Washington, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Aaron Pierre,” per Comic Book Movie.

T'Challa as Black Panther in his original costume
Credit: Marvel Studios

John David Washington, fresh off Netflix’s The Piano Lesson (2024), also starred in The Creator (2023). Kelvin Harrison Jr. shone in Cyrano (2021) and Elvis (2022), while Aaron Pierre voiced the titular role in Disney’s upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King (2024).

As fans await clarity on T’Challa’s MCU future, both Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are available to stream on Disney+.

What are your thoughts on T’Challa’s potential recast? Let us know in the comments below!

Thomas Hitchen

When he’s not thinking about the Magic Kingdom, Thomas is usually reading a book, becoming desperately obsessed with fictional characters, or baking something delicious (his favorite is chocolate cake -- to bake and to eat). He's a dreamer and grew up on Mulan saving the world, Jim Hawkins soaring through the stars, and Padmé Amidala fighting a Nexu. At the Parks, he loves to ride Everest, stroll down Main Street with an overstuffed pin lanyard around his neck, and eat as many Mickey-shaped ice creams as possible. His favorite character is Han Solo (yes, he did shoot first), and his favorite TV show is Buffy the Vampire Slayer except when it's One Tree Hill. He loves sandy beach walks, forest hikes, and foodie days out in the Big City. Thomas lives in England, UK, with his fiancée, baby, and their dog, a Border Collie called Luna.

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