In August 2020, Disney was faced with an unenviable task, how to handle the sudden and tragic death of Boseman, the star of its megahit film.
At the time of Boseman's death, the director had finished a draft script for the sequel, which was centered on the late actor's character. It's proof that racial representation in Hollywood can mean big money at the box office, as evidenced by the fact that the first blockbuster of the year was a predominantly Black cast.
The character of T'Challa, who was played by Boseman, became the Black Panther after the death of his father in the first movie, and the sequel is due in mid-2022. What it means to be Black in both America and Africa is the subject of the film.
The studio could have changed the character and continued with production if they had done so.
Kevin Feige was not a fan of it.
Feige said that it was too soon to make a new movie. There is a human element to everything we do and we talked about that. The world is grieving the loss of Chad. Ryan made that part of the story.
Critics and audiences agreed that the sequel honored Boseman's legacy and pushed the group forward. The film earned $181 million in its domestic debut, setting a record for the biggest opening in November and the second-best opening of all time.
The Black Panther is still a part of the universe. The name becomes something else.
T'Challa died from a disease in the movie. His passing has a big impact on his community and the characters from the movie. Shuri buries herself in work because she can't use science to cure her brother. His mother is trying to honor her son and ancestors while leading.
T'Challa's love interest, the war dog, is living in Haiti and working as a teacher.
Letitia Wright stars as Shuri in Marvel Studio’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”Shuri is struggling with her faith in the spiritual elements of the movie. She is able to take on the title of Black Panther after creating a new herb that gives the superhero's power.
In the film, the characters see her as a symbol for the future of the country, and they rally together to take on the villains.
The initial script centered on T'Challa's grief for the loss of time after he came back from being wiped out by another character.
The decision not to change Boseman's character isn't new.
The director of the Dark Knight trilogy didn't replace the actor who died of a drug overdose with the villain after he was prescribed drugs. The character of Paul Walker, who died in a car crash, was not re-cast in the Fast and the Furious franchise. The death of Carrie Fisher, who suffered cardiac arrest on a plane, was interwoven into Disney's "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker."
Shawn Robbins, chief analyst at Box Office.com, said there isn't a plan for replacing an actor when tragedy happens. It depends on the film and the situation, but we know that beloved actors are often replaceable within the context of the franchise.
Replacing Boseman wasn't a realistic option for fans or for the company.
Robbins said that his portrayal of T'Challa was instantly recognizable and made indelible by what he meant to generations of Black families.
T'Challa should have been changed to allow him to live on. The role should have been changed according to a survey. More than 30% said it should not have been changed.
Two years after Boseman's death, a poll was done.
The death of Boseman was incorporated into the sequel.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter last month, the actress said that her character lost her centerpiece. The world revolved around him when you said it did.
The whole point is that it is not the death of the black panther. It allows for real life to inform the story of the movies.
Boseman rose to prominence in Hollywood after starring in Warner Bros.' "42" and went on to play T'Challa in "Captain America: Civil War"
His performance in "Black Panther" was considered a milestone for Black representation in the entertainment industry, and he starred in two more movies before his death in August 2020.
Robert Thompson is a professor at Syracuse University and a pop culture expert. The passing of Boriseman forced the Marvel Universe to accept the rules of the actual universe, something it wasn't used to doing.
NBCUniversal is a part of the company. The franchise is distributed by NBCUniversal.
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