Calls to recast T’Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe grow louder

Actor Chadwick Boseman passed in August of last year from colon cancer, a condition he had kept private. People were shocked and aggrieved, not only because it hurt to lose someone as talented and kind as Boseman, but because it suddenly left a huge hole in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After all, Boseman played King T’Challa in Black Panther, one of the most successful and important Marvel movies yet released. With him gone, what was the franchise to do?

Well, one thing Marvel decided very early on is that it wasn’t going to recast the role. “You will not see T’Challa in the MCU 616 universe. We couldn’t do it,” said executive Nate Moore. “Because I think we all feel so much of T’Challa in the MCU on the screen, not the comics, is tied to Chadwick’s performance, is what he brought to that role, on and off-screen, I would argue. So as hard as it is narratively to figure out what to do because that’s a big hole, at no point did we consider recasting him.”

Instead, the sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will shift focus to T’Challa’s sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright. And while most fans seemed to agree with Marvel’s decision at the outset, recently some have been wondering if the role should be recast, with #RecastTchalla trending on Twitter.

Chadwick Boseman’s brother thinks he would have wanted T’Challa recast

And those calling for the role of T’Challa to be recast are getting support from an unlikely place: Chadwick’s own brother Derrick Boseman. Speaking to TMZ, Derrick opined that his brother would want the role recast to provide young Black kids with a role model, and that he thought the character was “bigger than just himself as one guy.” Derrick Boseman went on to say that T’Challa is an important character for young Black kids to see on the big-screen. However, Derrick Boseman did note that his brother never specifically stated what he would have wanted to happen with the character following his passing.

Granted, this is not the same thing as Chadwick Boseman himself actually saying he would have wanted to role recast in the event of his passing, but I wonder if new this call for action is a passing thing or if Disney will listen.

For now, the future is set. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever starring Letitia Wright will come out on November 11, 2022.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels

h/t CBR