As the Marvel Cinematic Universe evolves beyond the Multiverse Saga, one of its most revered characters still remains at the center of passionate discussion: T’Challa, the Black Panther. A new wave of reports is offering a clearer sense of where Marvel Studios may be headed next with the Wakandan legacy.
Phase Four wrapped with 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a film deeply shaped by the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman. More than a sequel, the film served as a cinematic tribute to both the actor and the heroic king he portrayed.
While Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) soared to massive success, much of Phase Four failed to maintain that same momentum. Originally, Marvel intended to conclude the phase with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and The Marvels (2023), but it was Wakanda Forever that ultimately closed it out—both narratively and emotionally.
Boseman’s 2020 death sent shockwaves through the industry. Marvel’s choice not to recast T’Challa ignited heated fan discourse, as many struggled to imagine Wakanda’s future without the actor who had become synonymous with the role.
At San Diego Comic-Con in 2022, Marvel unveiled the first teaser for Wakanda Forever to an emotionally charged audience. The footage raised immediate questions about the franchise’s direction, ones that are still being debated today.
Reactions to Marvel’s decision to keep T’Challa offscreen were split. Some saw it as a powerful gesture honoring Boseman’s legacy, while others felt the move left the character’s story without proper continuation. A vocal subset of fans even called it “the biggest attack in Marvel history,” with some pledging to skip the sequel entirely.
Nonetheless, Wakanda Forever drew strong numbers at the box office, closing at $859 million globally. It fell short of the first film’s $1.346 billion milestone but remained a financial high point in a shaky Phase Four.
The future of Wakanda is back in motion. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has confirmed that Black Panther 3 is officially on the slate, with producer Nate Moore set to return one last time before stepping away following Captain America: Brave New World (2025).
According to recent reports, Marvel is seriously considering how to reintroduce T’Challa—possibly through the Multiverse. One idea being floated involves a new version of the character appearing in major crossover events like Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), where Robert Downey Jr. is rumored to return—not as Iron Man, but as Victor Von Doom.
The timing is beginning to come into focus. “According to Jeff Sneider on The Hot Mic, Black Panther 3, that’s February 2028. That’s going to start production at the top of 2027. And that will be in theaters February 2028,'” Comic Book Movie reported.
Marvel currently holds the February 18, 2028 release window, one of only a few officially reserved dates for Phase Seven and beyond.
This all aligns with Feige’s confirmation that Avengers: Secret Wars will cap off the Multiverse Saga, effectively resetting the MCU moving forward.
Another possibility is a generational shift. Marvel may focus on an older version of Toussaint, the son of T’Challa and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), who was introduced at the end of Wakanda Forever. Among the names being speculated for this version of T’Challa are John David Washington, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Aaron Pierre.
A new name entered the conversation earlier this year: Aldis Hodge. The Black Adam (2022) and Cross star, who played Hawkman in DC’s cinematic universe, is reportedly on Marvel’s radar as well.
At this point, it’s unclear whether Marvel intends to bring in a Multiverse version of T’Challa or shift the mantle to Toussaint within the main continuity. What is clear is that the studio is being highly selective in plotting the future of the Black Panther.
Adding to the discourse, a claim from scooper My Time To Shine Hello alleged the studio has “only met with ‘light-skinned’ actors thus far.” The report drew swift backlash, but Marvel Studios and The Walt Disney Company have yet to respond publicly.
The animated series Eyes of Wakanda recently offered a fresh take on the Black Panther role. In the final episode, “The Last Panther,” Anika Noni Rose—best known for voicing Tiana in The Princess and the Frog—voiced the Wakandan hero.
All four episodes of Eyes of Wakanda are now available on Disney+.
Where do you think the future of Black Panther should go? Sound off in the comments.
