After the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman following a lengthy cancer battle, Marvel Studios decided to move forward with the Black Panther sequel. Director Ryan Coogler rewrote the screenplay, and it's thought the focus will now shift to Shuri as she attempts to take over the Black Panther mantle (though there are conflicting reports about who will be T'Challa's permanent replacement).
Lupita Nyong'o plays Nakia in the franchise, and will be back for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. She's actually among those named as a possible candidate for T'Challa's successor, and the actress recently commented on returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe while talking to People.
"It’ll be interesting to bring out another one of those films without Chadwick Boseman," Nyong'o admitted. "But we are holding him in close light. I think people will be excited about this one."
There's still no word on how Marvel Studios plans to explain T'Challa's absence. It has, however, been made clear that Boseman won't be recast or brought back with visual effects, so it will likely be explained that something happened between the events of Avengers: Endgame and this movie that led to the hero's death.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will add Riri Williams to the MCU and is rumoured to also introduce Namor the Submariner, Atlantis, and possibly even Doctor Doom. As for who takes over from Boseman/T'Challa, here's hoping they're able to inspire people the same way he did (and still does).
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters on November 11, 2022.
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