The X-Men '97 finale featured some huge Marvel Universe cameos, including Black Panther. However, we'd later discover that T'Chaka was beneath the mask, not T'Challa.
The decision has perplexed viewers, particularly when T'Challa's father is typically portrayed as the former Black Panther who fought alongside Captain America in World War II (which, in this timeline, could admittedly still be the case). T'Challa being sidelined has spawned many fan theories, with most convinced the decision must be related to Chadwick Boseman's death.
Following the actor's tragic passing, Marvel Studios chose not to recast his Black Panther. Instead, the hero died off-screen in the MCU, and 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ended with the reveal that he has a son, also called T'Challa.
In an interview with Phase Zero (via Toonado.com), X-Men '97 supervising director Jake Castorena was asked if there was a reason T'Chaka was depicted as Black Panther after the short-lived Fantastic Four: The Animated Series featured the T'Challa version (that show is presumably part of the same universe as this revival).
"I will elaborate on as much of it as I can. Some of the Black Panther of it all are definitely closed doors conversations that I wasn't privy to. That was definitely in Beau [DeMayo] and the executives' realm," the director explained. "But for us, there's always multiple timelines right there. There's always a one off. 'This is exactly how I like it, except for that one thing.'"
"So, who's to say what timeline is the right timeline, the proper timeline? I mean, y'all aren't ready for how we're gonna **** you up in season two. At the end, we tease it at the end of 10. We're gonna have to elaborate on that."
"At least for myself, this is set in the nineties. If T'Challa is the natural successor and is more of our era now, he would have still been a kid at that time. And while it is sort of retcon-y, based on what nineties series you watch, whether it was Fantastic Four...I believe it was just Fantastic Four that even had T'Challa," Castorena added.
"And that was before T'Chaka was like assassinated, or if there was a back in time thing, but I remember they did T'Challa. But, that's the best thing about our sandbox and multiple universes. For us, it just felt right."
It's a decent enough explanation, though it still feels like there's more to this than meets the eye (former X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo responded with "NDA" when a fan asked about the change on X).
In Marvel Studios' defence, not recasting T'Challa right now makes sense, particularly as any actor who plays him will be expected to live up to Chadwick Boseman's unforgettable performance. The actor's death is also still fresh in the minds of many. Regardless, for all we know, T'Challa is waiting in the wings, ready to take over from his father!
For the time being, though, it seems he's off-limits in the MCU.