Marvel Studios has the perfect opportunity to recast T’Challa’s Black Panther in Avengers: Secret Wars, according to a new MCU theory. After Chadwick Boseman’s tragic passing in 2020, questions emerged about whether Marvel Studios would recast T’Challa in the MCU or not. Boseman portrayed T’Challa, the King of Wakanda and the Black Panther, in four feature films, and also made posthumous appearances in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the animated What If…? series, so his passing sent shockwaves through the franchise.
Ultimately, the decision was made not to recast T’Challa in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Instead, the developing hero was killed off by a mysterious illness, allowing Letitia Wright’s Shuri to assume the position of Black Panther in his place. Wakanda Forever acted as a beautiful memorial to Chadwick Boseman, but enough time may have now passed for T’Challa to be recast without backlash or repercussions. A new MCU theory posed by Reddit user thatboddydoe suggests that Avengers: Secret Wars may be the perfect place for this to happen.
Michael B. Jordan Could Play A Variant Of T’Challa’s Black Panther In Avengers: Secret Wars
Avengers: Secret Wars is expected to include a huge number of multiversal variants of notable MCU heroes and villains. Most prominently, Robert Downey Jr. has recently been confirmed to be debuting as Doctor Doom in Phase 6, after having previously played Tony Stark’s Iron Man for over a decade. Because of this shocking turn of events, a new theory points to a past Marvel villain actor being reintroduced to the MCU as T’Challa, suggesting that Michael B. Jordan could switch roles in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Michael B. Jordan originally played Erik “Killmonger” Stevens, a.k.a. N’Jadaka, in 2018’s Black Panther, the cousin to T’Challa and Shuri who challenges for the throne of Wakanda. Killmonger was an incredibly complex and understandable villain, expertly portrayed by Jordan, so many want to see the actor return to the MCU. Killmonger also became the Black Panther, and was seen to be something of an antihero in What If…? season 1, so Avengers: Secret Wars could complete his transformation into a bona fide superhero.
Michael B. Jordan also appeared as Killmonger in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever , meeting Shuri in the Ancestral Plane after she consumed her synthetic heart-shaped herb.
T’Challa Plays A Huge Role In Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars Event
While some could argue there’s no need to recast T’Challa as Shuri is the new Black Panther of the MCU, introducing Michael B. Jordan as a variant of T’Challa wouldn’t discredit Shuri’s new role, and would allow some of Avengers: Secret Wars’ most important moments to unfold faithfully to Marvel Comics. T’Challa’s Black Panther has a major role in 2015’s Secret Wars storyline, as he embarks on a journey across Battleworld with fellow Illuminati member Namor to acquire a weapon capable of defeating God Emperor Doom.
On the Isle of Agamotto, T’Challa and Namor find a completed Infinity Gauntlet, and T’Challa later uses his title of King of the Dead to convince an army of zombies to join them in the battle against Doom. The Black Panther fights Doom with the Infinity Gauntlet before Mister Fantastic takes over, and while their battle culminates in Battleworld’s destruction, T’Challa uses the Reality Gem to recreate the Marvel Universe. It would be fantastic to see a version of T’Challa appear in Avengers: Secret Wars to pull off these incredible feats.
Recasting Michael B. Jordan As T’Challa Can Pay Homage To Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther
T’Challa possibly being recast has been a major point of discussion among MCU fans, as some claim the role is synonymous with Chadwick Boseman, so should be left that way, while others suggest the character should live on without Boseman. Casting Michael B. Jordan as a new version of T’Challa would be a great way to get the best of both worlds. Jordan and Boseman worked together previously, so the former knows the dedication and style of the latter intimately, meaning he could infuse elements of Boseman’s own performance back into his new T’Challa.
T’Challa is too rich a character to let disappear permanently from the MCU, with almost six decades of history in Marvel Comics that has barely been explored in live-action. Similarly, Michael B. Jordan is too strong an actor to waste in a one-and-done villain role, so it would be fantastic to see him brought back to the MCU as a permanent fixture. Avengers: Secret Wars is expected to establish a new timeline and status quo for the MCU, so it presents the best chance for Marvel Studios to recast T’Challa in the most logical and powerful way.
