Black Panther Wakanda Forever is almost here and fans will finally get answers to what has been on every Marvel fan’s mind — how will Marvel Studios handle the Black Panther character after the passing of 2018’s Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman. Winston Duke, who is reprising his role as M’Baku after playing the character in multiple Marvel films, shared his thoughts about recasting T’Challa.
While it’s no longer a secret that another character will take over the Black Panther mantle from Boseman’s T’Challa, there was always some talk about recasting the role. Some believed that was the best plan for the franchise, but Marvel has made it clear that “it just felt like it was much too soon” to bring in another actor for the role.
Black Panther Wakanda Forever actors have also been vocal on the subject of a potential recast, with many still saying now is not the time.
Duke recently spoke on Jemele Hill is Unbothered podcast and shared his thoughts on the idea of Marvel Studios recasting T’Challa after Chadwick Boseman passed away.
“I think for this iteration of Black Panther, it’s very hard for me to really comment on something like that. Because, I’m of the mind that this is Chadwick’s role. Chadwick created this and ‘Black Panther’ wouldn’t be the same without Chadwick Boseman, who stood for the things that he stood for. When you cast a person, you’re also casting their experiences, you’re casting their politics, you’re casting their all of these thing. ‘Black Panther’ was heavily defined by the actor that did it, in my opinion.”
The Black Panther Wakanda Forever actor did keep the door open to the idea somewhere down the line mentioning “multiple dimensions” and “possible re-imaginations” within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“So, I feel, as-is, the decision that’s been made to keep T’Challa, Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa is one that has a lot of nobility in it. But you also have to… there’s a level of trust that I think we should all have for a comic book world. (laughs) For a comic book world that has multiple dimensions and parallel dimensions and multiple stories and possible futures and possible reimaginations in the past. Just, multiple universes that they’re actually experimenting with. So I feel, my level of trust is that the medium can support a diversity of interpretations that can actually make us all happy.”
For now, we are one step closer to learning the identity of the new Black Panther. The first trailer that was released during this year’s SDCC shared a glimpse of the claws. In case you missed it, Marvel recently debuted a second Black Panther Wakanda Forever trailer giving a closer look at the character.
“We know what you whisper. They have lost their protector. Now is our time to strike. Show them who we are,” Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda says in the latest Wakanda Forever trailer.
At the end of the spot, a woman with an unknown identity appears in a new Black Panther dropping down and doing her best superhero landing — as Deadpool would say.
You can watch the new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer below.
