MOVIE NEWS – Chadwick Boseman will be the only film version of T’Challa that fans will ever see in the Marvel Universe.

There is only one T’Challa, and it’s Chadwick Boseman. After the sudden and shocking death of the Black Panther star last year, plans for an upcoming sequel have been put on hold as Marvel Studios works with the cast and crew to figure out the best way to make a sequel. Kevin Feige noted very early on that there were no plans to reprise T’Challa’s role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, nor would he be included in the film via CGI.

A little more time has passed, but Marvel’s stance has not changed, stating that Boseman will remain the only T’Challa in the MCU. Theoretically, it wouldn’t be hard to introduce a new T’Challa into the story now that the multiverse is involved in various Marvel movies. Perhaps an alternate version of T’Challa from another universe could appear to explain why we might see a new actor in the role. Of course, the studio always has the option of simply reprising the role of Black Panther, as we’ve seen before in the MCU with War Machine/Don Cheadle.

Don’t expect any of the above scenarios to happen. MCU VP of Development Nate Moore recently spoke to the Ringer-Verse about the possibility and confirmed that Marvel is committed to respecting Chadwick Boseman’s legacy, which means the role will not be recast. This decision was made very early on, and everyone was in entire agreement with it, and it’s not in anyone’s interest to change it now. From the interview:

“The chances that you see T’Challa in our… you will not see T’Challa in the MCU 616 universe. We couldn’t do it. I will say, when Chad passed, it was a real conversion we had with [Ryan] Coogler about, ‘What do we do?’ And it was a fast conversation. It wasn’t weeks, it was minutes of, ‘We have to figure out how to move this franchise on without that character.’ I think we all feel so much of T’Challa in the MCU on the screen is tied to Chadwick’s performance. It’s what he brought to that role both on and off-screen I would argue.”

Moore admits that moving forward without T’Challa has been a challenge creatively, but so far the team is happy with the direction. He goes on to describe the experience that fans will have when watching the Black Panther sequel as bittersweet, because although Chadwick Boseman will be missed, in a sense, it will be cathartic to watch the film without him.

“As hard as it is to figure out narratively to figure out what to do, because it’s a big hole, at no point did we consider recasting him. The challenge for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is telling a story without T’Challa. I think it’s a challenge we’re up for, and we’re obviously in the middle of it, and we’re figuring it out. So far, I think what we’re getting is great, but the challenge of the movie is to entertain people. But there will be a level of, I think, catharsis in people coming back to this universe without that guy, because that guy and this universe are one and the same.”

Fans recently heard Boseman’s voice as T’Challa one last time, as he played the character in the animated series What If… on Disney+. It’s hard to imagine how much more could have been in store for this great character in the MCU…

Source: Twitter

MCU VP of Development Nate Moore puts to rest any discussion about recasting the character of T’challa as Black Panther. Says he talked with Ryan Coogler about it, and “we just couldn’t do it” more on @RingerVerse. T’challa is gone guys you agree or no? pic.twitter.com/MYoWKyqlmF

— Van Lathan Jr (@VanLathan) November 14, 2021