Black Panther 2 is expected to make a narrative shift due to the tragic passing of the franchise's lead star, Chadwick Boseman, last year. The cast and crew of the upcoming sequel are still in a deep state of mourning, leading to numerous tributes for the actor from his fellow MCU veterans.
During Disney Investor Day, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that T'Challa will not be recast to pay tribute to Boseman's impressive portrayal. As a result, Black Panther 2 will instead focus on exploring the world of Wakanda and notable characters that were introduced in the first film.
The lingering question among fans is the identity of the next Black Panther in MCU canon, and there's a strong chance that this will be answered in the sequel. Now, it looks like the Black Panther franchise will continue to grow in the coming years, as evidenced by a new report.
WELCOME BACK TO WAKANDA
Deadline shared in a report that Black Panther director and co-writer Ryan Coogler will develop a Disney+ series revolving around a drama based in the Kingdom of Wakanda.
It was also revealed that Disney has “extended its relationship” with Coogler through a “five-year overall exclusive television deal” with Proximity Media. The
Coogler shared the following statement, teasing that he and the rest of the crew are “already in the mix on some projects that [they] can't wait to share:”
“It’s an honor to be partnering with The Walt Disney Company. Working with them on Black Panther was a dream come true. As avid consumers of television, we couldn’t be happier to be launching our television business with Bob Iger, Dana Walden and all the amazing studios under the Disney umbrella. We look forward to learning, growing, and building a relationship with audiences all over the world through the Disney platforms. We are especially excited that we will be taking our first leap with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and their partners at Marvel Studios where we will be working closely with them on select MCU shows for Disney+. We’re already in the mix on some projects that we can’t wait to share,” stated Ryan Coogler on behalf of Proximity Media.”
In a separate statement, The Walt Disney Company Executive Chairman Bob Iger expressed his excitement about the new deal, praising Coogler's vision in bringing “groundbreaking story and iconic characters to life” in 2018's Black Panther :
“Ryan Coogler is a singular storyteller whose vision and range have made him one of the standout filmmakers of his generation. With Black Panther , Ryan brought a groundbreaking story and iconic characters to life in a real, meaningful, and memorable way, creating a watershed cultural moment. We’re thrilled to strengthen our relationship and look forward to telling more great stories with Ryan and his team.”
MORE SHURI OR M'BAKU IN THE MCU?
It looks like the future is bright for the Black Panther franchise. Expanding the world of Wakanda in the long-form storytelling approach of the MCU presents a lot of opportunities, giving other characters a chance to shine similar to what shows like WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are doing to other heroes.
Coogler's involvement in other MCU shows should also be an exciting piece of good news since it paves the way for Black Panther characters to appear as guest stars in the aforementioned projects.
Given that the series will be set in Wakanda, the story possibilities are endless, which means that characters like Shuri or M'Baku will be pushed to the forefront now more than ever due to their popularity. On the flip side, the upcoming MCU project could also focus on the different tribes of the African country, further expanding the world that Coogler created.
A Wakanda-focused series also provides another way for Marvel to do a deep dive into the lore surrounding Black Panther . The mantle has been passed on to different generations, and the show could highlight the past individuals who claimed the title. By doing it this way, it should help fans understand the legacy of the Black Panther mantle while also touching on the legacy of T'Challa in some form.
The technological advancements of Wakanda is another intriguing storyline to cover, potentially highlighting the dangerous ramifications if it falls into the wrong hands. While this plot point was already featured in Black Panther , the narrative will clearly benefit from an episodic approach.
All in all, Wakanda is poised to become a much bigger part of the MCU, and it will be interesting to learn more about how the nation will evolve in the coming years.
