King T’Challa is Dead. Long Live King T’Challa.
Disney announced the late Chadwick Boseman will not be replaced in his iconic role as The Black Panther. Was this the right decision for business?
There was a cataclysm in fandom yesterday.
See details here.
As Chadwick Boseman is deceased, so too, officially, is King T’Challa, the Black Panther, from the current timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
During Disney’s December 10, 2020 investor call, Marvel Studios boss Keven Feige said the following about the late actor, who passed away from colon cancer on August 28 at the age of 43:
“His portrayal of T’Challa, the Black Panther, is iconic and transcends any iteration of the character in any other medium. And it’s for that reason that we will not recast the character. However, to honor the legacy that Chad helped us build through his portrayal of the kingdom of Wakanda, we want to continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film.”
The news immediately trended on social media. I posted word on my Facebook and the reactions ranged from agreement to seething anger. I stand by my position: Disney made a bold decision of which I…
