Following Chadwick Boseman’s death in real life, it’s rather hard to accept his death as Black Panther in the MCU timeline.

Debuting in 2016 with Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman became an integral part of MCU as T’Challa, aka Black Panther. Thereafter, the actor reprised his iconic role in Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and even in Avengers: Endgame (2019). Later on, although Boseman was supposed to continue his role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the actor unfortunately met with an untimely death due to cancer.

Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther in the MCU

While Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa was initially supposed to continue his legacy in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, his demise following a battle with colon cancer made the director incorporate Boseman’s death into the film. According to the MCU timeline, it was actually late April or early May of 2024, when King T’Challa passed away from a mysterious ailment in the movie. Today, fans thus mourn the death of Black Panther.

T’Challa’s MCU Legacy Ends in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Chadwick Boseman’s appearance as King T’Challa, aka Black Panther, has undoubtedly been one of the best casting choices in the MCU. The actor’s dedication and commitment towards stagecraft, not to forget his loyalty to his Marvel role, impressively turned him into a fan-favorite character. Which made it all the more difficult to accept the actor’s lost battle with cancer.

Beginning his career with Marvel in 2016, and thereafter appearing in four MCU movies, Chadwick Boseman left behind a massive legacy, following his untimely demise in 2020. According to BBC, Boseman was suffering from colon cancer, which eventually led him to his deathbed. While his passing away made it difficult for fans to accept, it had to be dealt with by the MCU.

Funeral scene of Chadwick Boseman‘s King T’Challa in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Since Chadwick Boseman was supposed to reprise his role as Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, director Ryan Coogler had made plans accordingly. However, after Boseman’s death, it became rather difficult to follow the initial plans and storyline. Therefore, according to EW, Coogler decided to radically change the future of the franchise by incorporating the actor’s death in the movie.

Ryan Coogler rewrote the script where he showed the heartbreaking demise of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther following a mysterious illness, only to ease out the character without changing the cast. He then shifted the spotlight on T’Challa’s sister Shuri to carry on the legacy of Wakanda. According to Geekritique’s assumption, the character apparently died in late April or early May of 2024, as per the MCU timeline.

Fans Mourn the Death of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther

Considering the assumptions made by Marvel fans and outlets, since Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther passed away in late April or early May of 2024, netizens gather to mourn his loss. Bidding farewell to Boseman was already difficult when Marvel further aggravated it to a point where fans had to experience the emotional weight of his beloved character’s death in MCU’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. 

MCU fans took to social media to share their emotional reactions over Black Panther’s death in early May as per the MCU timeline. Expressing gratitude for Chadwick Boseman’s contribution to the Marvel films and the impact his character had on their lives, fans celebrated the actor while simultaneously mourning the loss. Grieving fans thus became a testament to the legacy of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, which will forever be etched in the hearts of millions.