Derrick Boseman feels his brother, Chadwick Boseman, would want Marvel to recast his Black Panther character T'Challa. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and how Marvel and Ryan Coogler would address his death in the film.
Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige, has previously stated that Marvel would not be recasting T'Challa for the sequel. Recently, his sentiments were echoed by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever producer, Nate Moore, when he said T'Challa won't ever be recast. Marvel's reasoning comes from the fact that they believe T'Challa is tied to Boseman's performance more so than the comic book character. This issue has caused a lot of debate between fans, where some respect the decision and others are petitioning for Marvel to recast the role. The movement to have T'Challa recast started to gain momentum when the hashtag #RecastTChalla started trending.
One person in favor of having T'Challa recast is Chadwick Boseman's brother, Derrick. Derrick told TMZ that his brother knew that T'Challa was bigger than just one guy. He went on to say that the character proved to be a role model for Black youth and losing that would be a disservice. He even shared that his own nephew was inspired by Black Panther and wants to be a scientist because of the movie. Derrick did note that while his brother never shared his wishes for Black Panther 2 before his death, he feels that his brother would agree that T'Challa should live on.
Many fans have speculated Letitia Wright, who plays Shuri in the films, would take up the Black Panther mantle or at least have a bigger role in the film, due to Chadwick's absence. Recent rumors of Wright exiting the franchise due to her vaccination status, however, have put these theories to the test. It's been widely known that Wright has expressed anti-vaccination sentiments, leading many to believe her return to set would be comprised due to recent CDC rules and policy. The rumors have since been debunked, and it's been reported that Wright will return back to set in January after taking time to recover from an on-set injury. While production is on track, many fans can't forget Wright's vaccine stance, which could be one reason the #RecastTChalla movement has gained traction in recent days.
It's no question that Boseman stole hearts as the King of Wakanda, T'Challa. Watching the film, audiences can agree the praise he received was well-earned and deserved. Due to his captivating performance, it's understandable why Marvel doesn't want to recast the character in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as they want to respect their friend and colleague. However, it's hard not to recognize the great impact that T'Challa has had on the community and what retiring that character can mean, especially when Boseman himself knew the importance of his character.
Source: TMZ
