Chadwick Boseman tragically passed away earlier this year after a four-year battle with cancer. Marvel Studios and Ryan Coogler are moving ahead with Black Panther 2, and Kevin Feige has confirmed that the actor will not be recast as T'Challa. That means the Black Panther mantle will be passed on to a new hero, presumably Shuri or perhaps even M'Baku.
The Hollywood Reporter has paid tribute to Boseman by catching up with those closest to him, including his agent Michael Greene. The trade reveals that after negotiating a $10 million deal for the Black Panther sequel, he managed to secure a $20 million option for the "then-planned" Black Panther 3 for his client.
However, for Boseman, playing T'Challa wasn't about the money.
"He always wanted to do things that mattered or were meaningful," explains Greene. "Like, every role, even if it was a series or a TV show, it had to be something that would represent something positive. Because he was always a speaker — on debate teams and so on, he told me."
"And when we went to the Congressional Black Caucus together when 42 came out, he was standing there with Jesse Jackson and it was like he had been doing this for his entire life, he was so comfortable."
The hope among fans is that Marvel will be able to ensure the Black Panther franchise remains a meaningful, inspiring one, even without Boseman being there to spearhead it. T'Challa's legacy is important, and Black Panther 2 will hopefully continue that in some way. With Coogler back at the helm, however, we probably shouldn't worry too much about that.
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