Black Panther 2 will move forward in the wake of Chadwick Boseman's tragic death, but the role of T'Challa will not be recast.
Fans had been waiting for an official announcement regarding Marvel Studios' plans for the sequel even since we got word of the actor's passing, and Kevin Feige confirmed that the current King of Wakanda will not appear in the movie during today's Disney Inventors Day, while also giving fans a vague idea of what to expect from the sequel's plot.
"I wanted to acknowledge the devastating loss of a dear friend and member of the Marvel Studios family," Feige said during the live stream. "Chadwick Boseman was an immensely talented actor and an inspirational individual who affected all of our lives professionally and personally. His portrayal of T'Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel's past. It's for that reason that we will not recast the character."
Feige didn't get too specific when referencing the story Black Panther 2 will focus on, but he did reveal that the sequel will further explore T'Challa's homeland and some of the supporting characters introduced in the first film.
"However, to honor the legacy that Chad helped us build through his portrayal of the king of Wakanda, we want to continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film. Writer/director Ryan Coogler is hard at work on the sequel now, and we'll bring the film to you in theaters July 8, 2022."
A trade report recently suggested that Coogler's follow-up would give Shuri (Letitia Wright) a "more substantial" role, but we still don't know for sure if that means she'll suit-up and inherit the mantle of Black Panther.
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