Though the original “Black Panther” only hit theaters and went on to earn more than $1.34 billion at the global box office in 2018, the three-year gap has felt like an eternity as the world has gone through so much in that time. And in terms of Marvel and “Black Panther,” that includes the sudden passing of Chadwick Boseman last year. Well, more than three years later, the sequel “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” has officially kicked off production, and according to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, it’s a film that would have made the late actor proud.
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Speaking to Variety, while promoting Marvel Studios’ new feature, “Black Widow,” Kevin Feige announced that production on “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” has already begun in Atlanta, as the film preps for its July 8, 2022 release date. And while he didn’t share any of the specifics about how the film will handle the death of Boseman, the executive did explain his confidence in how the film would have made the actor proud.
“It’s clearly very emotional without Chad,” Feige said. “But everyone is also very excited to bring the world of Wakanda back to the public and back to the fans. We’re going to do it in a way that would make Chad proud.”
Not only is ‘Wakanda Forever’ the sequel to a billion-dollar feature film that is an extended part of the biggest film franchise in the history of the medium, but it’s also a feature that must explain the off-screen passing of the star. We already know Marvel Studios isn’t going to recast the role and the studio won’t use digital trickery to make Chadwick Boseman play a role in the film. So, it’s a bit of a mystery what the plan for ‘Wakanda Forever’ includes. That said, the film is written and directed by Ryan Coogler, and he has yet to turn in a bad feature, so we’re beyond hopeful and optimistic.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is scheduled to hit theaters on July 8, 2022.