Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther Being Recast With One of These Actors: Report

A new face is ready to take on the iconic role, or so they say.

As Marvel Studios concluded Phase Four in 2022, fans were left scratching their heads. While Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) shattered records, the rest of the phase struggled to capture the same magic. Theatrical releases underwhelmed at the box office and it was clear: Phase Four wasn’t just rocky—it was a storm.

Originally, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and The Marvels (2023)—both now Phase Five misfires—were set to wrap up Phase Four. Instead, that honor fell to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). Ryan Coogler’s follow-up to the groundbreaking Black Panther (2018) not only bore the weight of concluding Phase Four but also faced the immense challenge of honoring the legacy of Chadwick Boseman.

The tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020 left Hollywood and fans alike reeling. Boseman, who brought King T’Challa to life, was the heart of Black Panther and the new era of the MCU. Following his death, Marvel Studios announced they wouldn’t recast the role, sparking heated discussions about the franchise’s future without its titular hero.

At San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, the teaser trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever debuted. The emotionally charged preview hinted at the sequel’s direction but left fans with more questions than answers. The absence of T’Challa led some fans to call it “the biggest attack in Marvel history,” with a few even threatening to boycott the film. Ultimately, Letitia Wright’s Shuri stepped into the mantle, continuing her brother’s legacy in Wakanda.

As Wakanda Forever approached release, controversy over T’Challa’s absence reached a boiling point. A video featuring Marvel producer Nate Moore, who recently announced his departure from Marvel Studios, reignited debates. Moore referred to Black Panther as a “mantle,” a term that enraged fans who viewed T’Challa as irreplaceable.

“Black Panther is the first Black hero in mainstream comics history,” one fan wrote. “King T’Challa deserves to be back on screen and thrive across all mediums in the way Peter Parker Spider-Man, Bruce Wayne Batman, and Clark Kent Superman do.”

Another fan added, “We know it’s a mantle, but no one ever cared about a mantle. Like, in 50 years of T’Challa storytelling, 2022 is the first year we are talking about a mantle.” A bolder claim followed: “Black Panther franchise is over.”

Despite the backlash, Wakanda Forever proved the franchise was far from finished, earning a robust $859 million globally. While it didn’t match the original’s $1.346 billion, it stood tall, especially after the softer reception of Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), which brought in $760 million.

Fast forward to now, and it’s clear: Black Panther isn’t going anywhere. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige recently confirmed Black Panther 3 is in development, with Nate Moore still producing despite his impending departure after Captain America: Brave New World (2025).

New reports suggest a potential shift in T’Challa’s MCU journey. According to Jeff Sneider, Marvel is now open to recasting T’Challa through a Multiversal event. “With Marvel reshuffling the deck in advance of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, and Robert Downey Jr. coming back not as Iron Man but as Doctor Doom, I’m told that the door is firmly open for T’Challa to be recast via the magic of the Multiverse,” the scoop reads.

This would allow a new actor to embody T’Challa, much like Downey Jr.’s return as Victor Von Doom. For fans who opposed the decision to write T’Challa out, this Multiversal solution might reignite their excitement.

However, conflicting reports from My Time To Shine Hello claim Marvel might instead cast an older actor to portray T’Challa’s son, introduced in Wakanda Forever.

Now, a new report has listed the three actors who are said to be lined up for the role. According to My Time To Shine Hello, “Some of the actors Marvel Studios is/was considering to play ‘New T’Challa’ are: John David Washington, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Aaron Pierre,” Comic Book Movie wrote.

John David Washington recently starred in Netflix’s The Piano Lesson (2024) and before that in 20th Century Studios’ The Creator (2023). Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s credits include Cyrano (2021) and Elvis (2022), while Aaron Pierre recently voiced the titular role of Mufasa in Mufasa: The Lion King (2024).

While fans await news of T’Challa’s future, both Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are currently streaming on Disney+.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever stars Letitia Wright (Shuri), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Dominique Thorne (Riri Williams), Angela Bassett (Queen Ramonda), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Florence Kasumba (Ayo), Michaela Coel (Aneka), Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), and Tenoch Huerta (Namor).

What are your thoughts on the possible recasting of T’Challa? Share your opinions with Inside the Magic in the comments below!