On August 28th, 2020, the world lost Chadwick Boseman. Fans, friends and studios have created tributes (each of us in our own way) but the loss is still heavy. His unexpected passing also threatens his most famous role: Black Panther. Everyone is wondering the same question: how will Disney and Marvel handle Black Panther 2?
It’s easy to say that Disney and Marvel have much to consider.
With regards to Boseman:
- How do you keep Boseman’s performance sacred?
- Where do you find the same balance of wisdom and charisma?
With regards to current Black Panther 2 plans:
- What gets tweaked? What gets completely changed?
- How do these changes effect the MCU’s multitude of shows and films?
- Will production delays affect Marvel’s movie slate? Will movie releases need to be reorganized?
These are not just fan ponderings: these are multi-billion dollar questions. It’s not easy work, but the way I see it, they have two options:
Option 1A, Recast T’Challa: Pros
Their easiest option, on paper, is to just recast T’Challa.
Why not, right? Marvel’s done it already, twice.
In 2008, James “Rhodey” Rhodes/War Machine was a six foot tall, light-skinned, average-weight, medium-length hair Terrance Howard. Two years later, he was a five foot eight, dark-skinned, thin, and short-haired Don Cheadle. It was a jarring change, but the transition worked.
In 2008, The Hulk, Bruce Banner, started as a five foot ten, skinny, and slightly intense Ed Norton. Four years later, he shrunk to 5’7, gained some weight, and became a more soft-spoken and scholarly Mark Ruffalo. There are still Norton fans who lament his absence, but again, the transition worked.
Both cases worked. It can worked for Black Panther. You just need someone who can make the character their own.
Option 1B, Recast T’Challa: Cons
And yet…Black Panther is different. Rhodey is a sidekick. The Hulk has been adapted before. Black Panther has only ever appeared in cartoons. The current live-action iteration of the Black Panther is the only one. It’s still fresh.
It’s still Boseman’s role.
We can’t compare to James Bond or Batman, a role passed down over a long succession of revamps and reboots. Not James McAvoy or Michael Fassbender as younger versions of Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan’s Professor X. This Black Panther was still gaining momentum.
It’s not impossible, but Marvel must be careful. One degree off-trajectory and they ruin the role for fans, the cast, and Black Panther stories for years. For the actor involved, he risks his career on pleasing the fans, his co-stars and the franchise. But he also needs to make the role his own without displacing Boseman’s performance. It’s why Dumbledore fans still miss Richard Harris. Michael Gambon just never quite felt the same.
Recasting seems like the easier option, but it needs caution and care. Marvel is in front of a minefield: do they walk through the middle, watching their step? Or do they sidestep all of it by walking around?
Option 2A, Someone Inherits The Mantle: Pros
In the comics, many people have taken the Black Panther mantle in T’Challa’s absence. With Iron Man and Captain America gone, characters are filling their shoes. The MCU can continue to grow into its own continuity by having roles passed down. T’Challa took his father’s place; now it could be time for someone to take T’Challa’s.
Black Panther was a success. Without diminishing Chadwick Boseman’s performance, that success was the result of an entire cast of talented actors. Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia. Letitia Wright’s Shuri. Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger. Winston Duke’s M’Baku. All of these actors and characters added dimensions to the movie. All of these characters could, in one way or another, inherit the role.
The cast has already proven themselves to the audience. Having pre-established characters grapple with inheriting the Black Panther role creates complications. Complications create tension. Tension adds weight to the role and mantle. And, for better or worse, this tension and emotion would be real. Each actor would be carrying the weight of the role, and Boseman’s performance, into every scene.
This could be a different take that really makes the MCU standout. Fans have accused Disney and Marvel of getting too comfortable with formulaic plots; this could drastically shake up the trajectory of the MCU.
However, it’s not foolproof. Disney and Marvel still have to be careful.
Option 2B, Someone Inherits The Mantle: Cons
Everyone loves the ensemble that makes up Black Panther. But we love them for how they come together. Each of them pushes and pulls at T’Challa until he finds balance. They are foils that help T’Challa grow. But can these characters standout on their own?
The movies have been building T’Challa’s journey for several years. T’Challa is just about to step into the role of a world leader. His newly found wisdom is even more important in a post-Avengers: Endgame world. Black Panther 2 also has to outdo its predecessor, itself a massive task. Which character can take over that weight? Who else can do perform action, drama and humor as well as Boseman?
Even more, will the audience support the change of mantles? Will they believe that Shuri can be the next Black Panther? Or that M’Baku is as captivating as T’Challa?
Final Word
Both options come with risks. And there is a time limit. Writers, producers, directors and actors have to be involved in this monumental responsibility. There are safer choices and there are adventurous choices. I have a few opinions of my own. But first, what do you think? What should Marvel do next?
This is where I challenge you: comment below and give me your best Black Panther 2 pitch. Keep in mind this is a money-making franchise with a lot of investors; how can you make your dream film work when you have to be safe? Give me your thoughts and I give you mine when the next post drops.
Follow-Up Posts
This post birthed an exploration of ideas based on Option 2: someone inheriting the mantle. For more on these concepts, check out the following posts:
- The Solarpunk Black Panther
- The Dispossessed Black Panther
- The Redeemed Black Panther
- The Idealist Black Panther
- A surprise direction for Black Panther 2
More Posts by Chaos Mechanica
- A Letter to Chadwick Boseman
- How Should DC Fandome and Conventions Exist Beyond COVID?
- Contrarian’s Corner: Dan DiDio: Stop Making Excuses About Wally West
- Marvel Almost Stripped Miles Morales of the Spider-Man Name. They Still Should
- Into The Spider-Verse Wants Miles Morales To Be The Prowler, Too
- That Time Marvel Published a Bigoted X-Men Comic (On Purpose)
- The Boys Pilot Wants You To Feel Disturbed By Privilege
- Stranger Things Season 4 Needs Characters Classes
- Marvel, Please Stop Future “Disassembled” Stories
- The Incredibles 2 and The Problem of Crime in Superhero Fiction
- Another Approach: A Better Final Battle With Thanos
I think Shuri is the best option to take up the mantle. It’s comic canon and MCU wise she fits the role the best. She designed the suits so she understands best how they work and what tweaks they would need. And we can see from the first BP that Shuri has more than enough charisma and budding leadership skills to grow into being a proper Queen and commander of the military.
I think that would be interesting. And where T’Challa is more physical, Shuri is a thinker: she may lean more on the tech side and forge some creative non-lethal weapons. It’d be interesting to see her go from the immature, comic relief sister to a serious leader. She’d have a great story of being forced to grow up faster for the sake of her country (and the world, post-Infinity War).
I think it’s the recast option. I love shuri as is. She doesn’t need the mantle to be a great character. On the other hand, if you give it to shuri, there goes the only star male PoC there is. Theres other side characters of color, but no headliner. Im not sure who would be good for the recast, but that’s the way I would go. I think you can bring in Kamala Khan to be the first female headliner of color.
I left a comment, but doesnt seem to have stuck. I would prefer it recast. Shuri is great character on her own, she doesnt need the mantle. On the other hand, if you give it to her, then there goes the only headliner PoC in the MCU. Plenty of side characters and even a TV headliner soon, but none for the movies. I think Kamala Khans growing popularity makes her a perfect fit for the the first big female lead PoC. Not sure who would be best to recast. Maybe even bringing back MBJ as a redeeming kill monger would be best.
Sorry! (I need to change the settings so comments don’t need my approval; however, both of your comments are up now).
On recasting, who would you want as a recast?
I agree with you on Shuri. Shuri could be interesting, but the MCU version doesn’t quite connect with me as a headliner under the BP mantle. At least not yet. But if they built her up right, maybe down the line.
I really, really agree with you On Kamala. I’ve enjoyed her comics, and I hear that the Avengers game is really a glorified “Kamala and her Avengers Friends” (but in all the right ways with regards to her leading the narrative).