What's the appropriate next step for Black Panther?

[XPac]

A character that means so much to so many, who has transcended the limitations of the silver screen. And yet this is a franchise. How do you move on from here?

My feeling is that this is a seminal moment for Marvel. They have their first real opportunity to prove that a single actor does not define a specific, inherently immortal character. Black Panther, T'Challa, is the opportunity to show that the inspiration goes far beyond any single actor, however much that actor defined the role. The character is who we look up to, who speaks to us to achieve greater things.

This is Marvel's opportunity to grow. I look forward to see how they grasp that opportunity.

I'm fine with whatever Coogler is comfortable with.

I don't agree with the arguements that recasting Black Panther is disrespectful... nor do I agree with the arguements that replacing T'Challa with Shuri is disrespectful. I think either option will get criticism... but I think either option will ultimately work.

[AndrewCrossett]

I think I would make this decision in consultation with Ryan Coogler, the cast members, Chadwick Boseman's family, and maybe some other prominent Black actors and industry people to try and figure out the best way to go forward, or not.

[MoneySpider]

I think I would make this decision in consultation with Ryan Coogler, the cast members, Chadwick Boseman's family, and maybe some other prominent Black actors and industry people to try and figure out the best way to go forward, or not.

Why would Chadwick Boseman's family be part of the discussion? I could understand if Black Panther was a character created by Chadwick and he and his family allowed Marvel/Disney to borrow the character for the MCU, but that's not the case. Disney/Marvel owns the rights to all Black Panther characters.

Unless you mean if Disney somehow tries to use Chadwick's likeness in future movies with CGI/DeepFake and would need his family's permission to do that (which is something I hope they don't do).

[AndrewCrossett]

Why would Chadwick Boseman's family be part of the discussion? I could understand if Black Panther was a character created by Chadwick and he and his family allowed Marvel/Disney to borrow the character for the MCU, but that's not the case. Disney/Marvel owns the rights to all Black Panther characters.

Because Boseman IS Black Panther to hundreds of millions of fans, and basic sensitivity would suggest that his family should be part of the discussion of what should happen to him, in the absence of CB himself being able to weigh in.

Black Panther has a lot of emotional resonance for many people, and so does Chadwick Boseman's death, and I don't think anybody really cares about "who owns what" or "who has what legal rights" at the moment.

I am in favor of Shuri taking over the role if that's what they decide is best, and if Leticia Wright wants to do it (they shouldn't re-cast Shuri either). She will get a lot of hate for it... much of it concern-trolling from racists and misogynists who see "it's disrespectful to re-cast Black Panther" as a good way to help spike the world's first A-list Black superhero, and another headliner female superhero, while seeming to have "reasonable concerns."

Maybe they could actually meet that head-on by making that hate part of the story itself.

[MoneySpider]

Because Boseman IS Black Panther to hundreds of millions of fans, and basic sensitivity would suggest that his family should be part of the discussion of what should happen to him, in the absence of CB himself being able to weigh in.

Black Panther has a lot of emotional resonance for many people, and so does Chadwick Boseman's death, and I don't think anybody really cares about "who owns what" or "who has what legal rights" at the moment.

I am in favor of Shuri taking over the role if that's what they decide is best, and if Leticia Wright wants to do it (they shouldn't re-cast Shuri either). She will get a lot of hate for it... much of it concern-trolling from racists and misogynists who see "it's disrespectful to re-cast Black Panther" as a good way to help spike the world's first A-list Black superhero, and another headliner female superhero, while seeming to have "reasonable concerns."

Maybe they could actually meet that head-on by making that hate part of the story itself.

I still fail to understand how Chadwick Boseman's family has any type of say how Disney moves forward with T'Challa in the MCU's future UNLESS Disney is trying to use his likeness. To me, that's like saying Christopher Reeve's family or George Reeves' family should be consulted every time Warner Bros. wants to make a Superman movie or have Superman appear in a film. Because to a lot of people, Christopher Reeve WAS Superman, and so was George Reeves for the small screen.

These fictional characters do not belong to any one actor or actress, unless these characters were created BY the particlar actors and actresses. To me, "basic sensitivity" means Disney honors Chadwick in future movies, but his family can't stop the company from using T'Challa in future movies just because Chadwick portrayed him first and can no longer do so.

[AndrewCrossett]

I'm not saying Boseman's family should control how the character is used. I'm saying that they should have input as a matter of respect. You're treating this issue like a strictly legal matter, and it's not.

[Midvillian1322]

I'm fine with whatever Coogler is comfortable with.

I don't agree with the arguements that recasting Black Panther is disrespectful... nor do I agree with the arguements that replacing T'Challa with Shuri is disrespectful. I think either option will get criticism... but I think either option will ultimately work.

Yea anything Coogler decides im down with. Id rather not recast and have Shuri take up the mantle. Killmonger come in to train her inspired by whatever sacrifice tchalla makes. though him being alive undercuts his message from the climax. . Maybe even Bucky be involved in her training. I get why people want Killmonger to become BP though. Other then T'challa hes the only one blessed by heart shaped herb. But there's ways around that, they can write another one in or have Shuri synthesize it artificially. Shuri also gives a chance for another strong female lead with Widow out.

[Güicho]

I imagine he'd want the character to live on.
Boseman had a great opportunity to bring T'Challa to life, and would want that opportunity to continue for other actors like him, of his peers, or of later generation.
If it's in the next movie, and they can find the right guy, and all involved are ok with it great!
I'd love to see it.
If not, it doesn't have to be in this incarnation of the franchise, if they want to make Shuri inherit the mantle going forward fantastic.
It plays well for what they have set-up and built, and would be an incredible, painful yet powerful arc for her character, and the world of Wakanda.

As far as never recasting, I don't think so. If what it takes is time.
Eventually a new gen will want to explore the character, make him their own, and bring him to life in film, and they absolutely should be allowed and encouraged to do so.
Boseman's incarnation is with us forever.
Yet the character should not die with Boseman.

[XPac]

Yea anything Coogler decides im down with. Id rather not recast and have Shuri take up the mantle. Killmonger come in to train her inspired by whatever sacrifice tchalla makes. though him being alive undercuts his message from the climax. . Maybe even Bucky be involved in her training. I get why people want Killmonger to become BP though. Other then T'challa hes the only one blessed by heart shaped herb. But there's ways around that, they can write another one in or have Shuri synthesize it artificially. Shuri also gives a chance for another strong female lead with Widow out.

There's a lot of interesting options.

Recasting is the most obvious. Shuri is a close second. But I do think as crazy as it sounds on paper, a resurrected and redeemed Killmonger actualy does kind of work. Because he is technically royal family he could be Black Panther while Shuri is on the throne (in comics they can be 2 separte things... we saw that in the Civil War movie). I've even hard a few Kasper Cole theories out there.

It'll be interesting to see how they handle this. Several options... and all of them will likely be criticised no matter what Coogler does.

[CliffHanger2]

I'd rather a recast Derek Luke or someone in that vein. Going to Shuri so soon is def a wrong move imo.

[Midvillian1322]

There's a lot of interesting options.

Recasting is the most obvious. Shuri is a close second. But I do think as crazy as it sounds on paper, a resurrected and redeemed Killmonger actualy does kind of work. Because he is technically royal family he could be Black Panther while Shuri is on the throne (in comics they can be 2 separte things... we saw that in the Civil War movie). I've even hard a few Kasper Cole theories out there.

It'll be interesting to see how they handle this. Several options... and all of them will likely be criticised no matter what Coogler does.

Yea the only issue with Shuri as BP is she can't fight. All she can do is blast people with her Panther gauntlets. Unless she was hiding her skills. So either were gonna get some extensive training montages lol or maybe she becomes a hybrid between Black Panther and Iron Man. Use way more tech in her suit..

As far as recating the only person I can really see stepping into is the runner up supposedly from the original auditions. Aldis Hodge, he has a similar look and body type to Chadwick. Hodge might be a bit bulkier iono. But honestly I'd rather they not recast until the MCU reboots . Again though I trust Coogler. Whatever he decides.

What werre the White Tiger theories? Just him pulling a Scott Lang?

[XPac]

Yea the only issue with Shuri as BP is she can't fight. All she can do is blast people with her Panther gauntlets. Unless she was hiding her skills. So either were gonna get some extensive training montages lol or maybe she becomes a hybrid between Black Panther and Iron Man. Use way more tech in her suit..

As far as recating the only person I can really see stepping into is the runner up supposedly from the original auditions. Aldis Hodge, he has a similar look and body type to Chadwick. Hodge might be a bit bulkier iono. But honestly I'd rather they not recast until the MCU reboots . Again though I trust Coogler. Whatever he decides.

What werre the White Tiger theories? Just him pulling a Scott Lang?

I could totally see M'Baku or Okoye doing an 80's style Rocky training montage with Shuri. Or even Killmonger I guess. But outside of the tribal challenge thing, she doesn't necessarily need fighting skill. She can go the Iron Man route anytime she wants. With no heart shaped herb, tech might be the way to go for future BP's.

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

People seem to prefer shuri taking over than recasting so I'd go with that.

[Powerboy]

A character that means so much to so many, who has transcended the limitations of the silver screen. And yet this is a franchise. How do you move on from here?

My feeling is that this is a seminal moment for Marvel. They have their first real opportunity to prove that a single actor does not define a specific, inherently immortal character. Black Panther, T'Challa, is the opportunity to show that the inspiration goes far beyond any single actor, however much that actor defined the role. The character is who we look up to, who speaks to us to achieve greater things.

This is Marvel's opportunity to grow. I look forward to see how they grasp that opportunity.

I think they need to leave the Black Panther out of it for a couple of years.

It's a hard choice that will get criticism no matter what they do. They could recast but that gets to be an issue. The reality is that there are some characters that recasting would work and some I don't think it will. I don't think they could recast Tony Stark until a long time and a reboot. Obviously, they could recast Bruce Banner. I don't know which category Boseman was in. That they recast Banner shows they already know they can do it under the right circumstances.

I'd go with what Boseman's family is okay with.

[ZeroBG82]

Honestly, I think the smartest play here is to take what has happened in real life and apply it to the film. Boseman's death has revealed just how much he has inspired people in this role. So let that be his legacy in the film as well, and have his T'Challa inspire the next BP to take up the mantle.

Now, who do you put in the suit? Shuri makes a ton of sense, and lets you build off what we've already seen in the first BP film. But I could see them going with a different character. (What was the second BP's name in the comics? Cole?) But whatever you do, you stress the legacy. That this character is being driven by the memory of who T'Challa was, and what he represented, in the same way that the franchise is now being driven by the memory of Boseman.

If handled delicately, and with respect, I think it could not only make a good film, but serve as a fitting memorial for both the man and the character he played.