Black Panther producer Nate Moore has squashed speculation that the character of T’Challa could be recast in the third movie. The announcement comes amid growing discussions about the future of the franchise, which has grossed more than $2.2 billion worldwide.
Reports emerged last month that Marvel Studios was searching for a new actor for the role that was initially played by the late Chadwick Boseman but these have been dismissed by Moore. The original Black Panther film earned seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture.
“The truth is, there’s no truth to those rumors,” the Marvel producer told ComicBook.
“Never say never to anything, we haven’t really had a lot of creative conversations with (director) Ryan Coogler yet, because he’s finishing his film Sinners, which comes out this year.
“We’ll get into it later this year, but everything you read online is not true, if for no other reason than we just haven’t started (working on it).” Coogler’s Sinners marks his first directorial effort outside the Marvel universe since 2015.
It was claimed by Hollywood insider Jeff Sneider that the studio was contemplating recasting T’Challa now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is exploring the multiverse. The MCU’s multiverse saga has already spawned several successful projects, including Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
He pointed to Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr’s return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars as a reason why Marvel was open to bringing the character back with another actor. These upcoming films are part of Marvel’s Phase 6, scheduled for release in 2026 and 2027.
Sneider claimed that the role of T’Challa had been offered to an unknown performer last autumn but they turned the opportunity down because they didn’t want to potentially “jeopardize their career” by “stepping into Boseman’s gigantic shoes.” Boseman’s portrayal of T’Challa earned him widespread acclaim and numerous accolades.
Meanwhile, Moore also discussed how the events of the upcoming flick Captain America: Brave New World will help to set up the plot of Black Panther 3. The interconnected nature of Marvel’s storytelling has been a key factor in the studio’s success.
“I’m sure Wakanda will have an opinion about the arrival of Adamantium. And I’m sure Wakanda had an opinion on Sam Wilson as Captain America,” he said.
“Clearly, they seem to support him, as they’ve given him some technology to help him out. But Wakanda isn’t in the best graces with the U.S. government, so there’s a possibility for conflict in a lot of different ways.
“I think Wakanda, to me, gets to play in the same political thriller sandbox as Captain America because it does deal with globalization and global politics, so anything is possible.” The political thriller elements have been a significant part of both franchises’ success.
Denzel Washington revealed last November that he would be starring in Black Panther 3 in one of his final roles before retirement. The acclaimed actor has won two Academy Awards over his illustrious career spanning four decades.
Confirming that Coogler had written a role just for him in the third installment, the Oscar-winner told Australia’s “Today” show: “At this point in my career, I’m only interested in working with the best, I don’t know how many more films I will make, probably not that many. I want to do things that I haven’t done.”
Sharing the roles he has lined up before he brings his Hollywood career to a close, the Training Day actor said: “I played Othello at 22, I’m now going to play it at 70. After that, I’m playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther.
“After that, I’m gonna do the film Othello. After that I’m gonna do King Lear. After that, I’m gonna retire.” Washington’s involvement adds significant prestige to the project, given his status as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.
The franchise continues to be one of Marvel’s most critically and commercially successful properties, with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earning more than $850 million worldwide and receiving numerous accolades, including five Academy Award nominations.
