Short answer. Yes
It's fiscally better for them to kill Tchalla (their highest grossing solo chatacter ever) off than to be forced to pay the actor (new or old) RDJ level money. Why do that when they can Proclaim that the real star of the movie was the fictional land of wakanda (which doesn't get a paycheck) and render the hero a replaceable "mantle" in case any new leads get the notion that they deserve a fair share of those billions?
As unprecedented as this is, its the only time Feigie leaked future plans for a franchise so openly by proclaiming to the heavens that there will never be another Tchalla (aka true lead black A-list hero) because guess what, the new actor in that role will eventually keep making billions on the franchise since the IP IS SO STRONG that it will always bank when done properly no matter the director or actors name. (No disrespect to Chad as he was magnificent)
Anyone here think one of the supporting cast members who are getting a bigger spotlight are gonna command Downey type contracts?
For the life of me, I can't understand why any black person supports this. If t'challa is replaceable and they can still make a decent profit while the growth and the storyline is stunted then what makes any of these No Name characters worth anything at all? People don't even know the difference between Okoye and Ayo.
But folks keep sipping that Disney kool-aid and cheering for typical Hollywood racism. Peter Parker is forever...Bruce Wayne is forever....joker....think wolverine and Deadpool will never be recast? No white fictional icons will ever die. We will probably see a new Wonderwoman in 7-10 years despite how much ppl loooove Gadot.
There are literally Zero other movies that are about a mantle and not a character. It's a pretty standard operating procedure for comics and comic book movies to be character-driven rather than having an empty costume be the true protagonist
Dont get me started on Vince lol