Marvel may have found its new Black Panther but are they a good fit?

Date:
Thu, 11 Nov 2021 11:11:13 +0000

Description:
A new report claims that Marvel has found its lead for Black Panther 2 but are they the right candidate?

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Its no secret that Chadwick Bosemans tragic and unexpected passing left a TChalla-sized hole in Marvels plans for future Black Panther movies but fans are still yet to learn who, if anyone, will be taking up the titular heros mantle.

For months, the presumption had been that Letitia Wright, who plays TChallas sister, Shuri, in the first movie and upcoming sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, would step into the lead role. Recent reports , though, have suggested that this may not be the case, after all.

Now, were hearing rumors (per a story from Giant Freakin Robot (GFR)) that Winston Dukes MBaku will be inheriting the Black Panther moniker, instead. This news comes by way of the publications supposedly trusted and proven inside sources, but wed still advise taking it with a hefty pinch of salt.
How to watch the Marvel movies in order The state of play

Its worth clarifying Marvels official comments regarding the future of the Black Panther universe following Bosemans death in August 2020. At the time, Marvel confirmed that it wouldnt recast the role of TChalla as a tribute to the late actors powerful portrayal.

"Honoring Chadwick Boseman's legacy and portrayal of T'Challa, Marvel Studios will not recast the character, but will explore the world of Wakanda and the rich characters introduced in the first film," a company tweet read last
year. Black Panther 2, opening July 8, 2022, is being written & directed by Ryan Coogler. Honoring Chadwick Bosemans legacy & portrayal of TChalla, @MarvelStudios will not recast the character, but will explore the world of Wakanda & the rich characters introduced in the first film. December 11, 2020 See more

Many fans took this to mean that Shuri would likely step into T'Challas shoes in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which is scheduled for release on November 11, 2022 as part of Marvels Phase 4 movie roster.

But, although shooting began on the project earlier this year, Wright sustained an injury which forced her to return home to London. What's more, plans to resume production at the beginning of 2022 have since been thrown into turmoil by Hollywoods crackdown on vaccination regulations (Wright herself is not yet vaccinated, hence the disruption).

It seems, then, that Marvel may be considering contingency plans for the future of the franchise. In our opinion, thats why GFRs claims about Winston Duke hold water even if were not totally convinced about their authenticity.

So, would Winston Duke actually make a good Black Panther? Keep your enemies close

Dukes character, MBaku, has a rocky relationship with Bosemans TChalla in the original Black Panther movie. He is the leader of the Jabari Tribe, a group
of Wakandans who have removed themselves from mainstream society, and challenges T'Challa for the crown in ritual combat.

The eponymous hero defeats M'Baku and persuades him to yield rather than die, but hes clearly less-than-impressed with his new leader. Still, as repayment for his debt, M'Baku and the Jabari tribe arrive to reinforce T'Challa
against Michael B. Jordans Killmonger during the movies final battle.

In the comics, M'Baku remains T'Challas domestic foe, though his appearances in both Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame fighting alongside the Wakandan army against Thanos forces suggest Marvel would be willing to further
digress from its source material by appointing him leader of the Wakandans in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. (Image credit: Marvel Studios / Disney)

Its plausible, then, but is it likely? We know that Wakanda Forever will be focusing on the rich characters introduced in the first film, one of whom is M'Baku, so audiences could be exposed to a more kind-hearted, likeable leader than the gruff warrior weve seen so far.

That said, MBaku has previous form for showcasing his jovial side. We saw as much in Black Panther, when he joked with TChalla and company after Bosewicks character is revealed to be alive following his defeat to Killmonger earlier in the movie. So, while MBaku portrays himself to be a very serious individual, his underlying personality, combined with his clearly imposing physical presence, would make him an ideal replacement for TChalla.

Still, were unsure about anyone assuming the mantle of Black Panther sometime soon. In our view, TChalla (and Boseman, by extension), is Black Panther. Seeing someone else in his suit with his superpowers, then, would be strange, even if its done with the best intentions on Marvels part.

Itll be a while before we find out for sure, anyway. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever wont arrive in theaters for another 12 months, and we suspect that Marvel will keep this particular card close to its chest until its finally released.

Hopefully, the studio makes the right decision in honoring Boseman either
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/marvel-may-have-found-its-new-black-panther-but -are-they-a-good-fit/


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