Who will be the next Black Panther? 5 possibilities amid Letitia Wright firing rumors
Ever since the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, the big question on Marvel fans' minds has been - who will be the next Black Panther? The title will definitely be passed down, as producer Kevin Feige acknowledged, but who that could be is proving to be a bigger headache than expected. At the center of the question is Letitia Wright, the actress who plays Shuri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
As we earlier reported, Wright is currently causing major problems for the production of the Black Panther sequel. In August, she was hospitalized after an accident on set in Atlanta. The injury got worse, putting the production on hold till early 2022 while Wright recovered. Now, her return is questionable at best, given America's travel guidelines. Wright, a staunch anti-vaxxer, has firmly refused to get jabbed, meaning she won't be allowed to enter the US from the UK, where she's currently living.
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As if that's not enough for Marvel to deal with, there's also the fan backlash from Wright's stance to battle. The studio has been facing calls to replace Wright since late 2020, but so far, doesn't appear to have done so. In December 2021 though, there does appear to be a change. There are now strong rumors Wright won't return to complete filming, meaning Marvel will surely have to find a new Black Panther. Wondering who that could be? Here are the top 5 contenders.
Theory #1: Wright keeps her role
The most possible solution is that Wright's Shuri will indeed become the Black Panther, as has been speculated. Of course, that's assuming she will return to film 'Wakanda Forever', and other projects the character may feature in. It's a big if at the moment, but it seems highly likely given Marvel's strong insistence that Wright is still very much part of the movie. On December 10, The Hollywood Reporter said Wright would return to the set in January 2021, and filming would resume. That's of course assuming she has been jabbed, which is still a big question mark.
Theory #2: Shuri is recast, and keeps the mantle
Assuming Marvel decides to boot Wright, they could opt to keep the character of Shuri as the Black Panther, by simply recasting Wright's role. There were rumors this was the case back in July 2021, after it was reported Michaela Coel had joined the cast. However, this seems to be highly unlikely, given that a majority of the film has already been shot, meaning it would require massive reshoots. Not that it's a big issue for Marvel from a financial standpoint, but it would mean a significant shift in release date.
Theory #3: M'Baku takes on the mantle
Winston Duke's M'Baku was a major fan favorite in the first film, so there's a possibility Marvel could leverage that to give him the title of the Black Panther. Not only would it please the crowds, but it would also give Duke a larger role in the MCU. There have been rumors of this on Reddit and Twitter, with one tipster even noting, "You heard right. He's not the lead of Black Panther 2 but he gets the mantle from Shuri." Doing so would only mean altering the ending of the film, which seems the most practical solution at this point.
You heard right. He's not the lead of Black Panther 2 but he gets the mantle from Shuri https://t.co/RZzSKiDUYc
— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) December 11, 2021
Theory #4: T'Challa is recast
Kevin Feige was very clear Boseman's T'Challa would not be recast, but amidst the Wright controversy, it seems like a palatable solution to most fans. Many users have taken to Twitter and Reddit asking Marvel to simply recast T'Challa so he remains the Black Panther, but this is highly impractical for two reasons. For one, it would mean rewriting and reshooting the whole film, a major logistical headache. And two, it would be something both Fiege and director Ryan Coogler have vehemently opposed. This seems the least likely option of all.
Theory #5: Marvel hands the title to other cast members
The first 'Black Panther' film introduced the world to a wide variety of female characters, from Okoye to Nakia, and members of the Dora Milaje. It's possible any one of these characters could take up the Black Panther mantle, especially in the final act. Doing so wouldn't require major reshoots, and would also be a step away from the comics, which the MCU has frequently done in the past. There haven't been many rumors of this though, so it seems unlikely, at least for now.
In all possibilities, Duke will be Marvel's next Black Panther. TMZ reported that Wright is likely to quit the MCU altogether after finishing 'Wakanda Forever', so it makes sense for Marvel to hand over the title to another existing character. But, they could also choose to recast Shuri if they want, given that they did so for Bruce Banner and James Rhodes in the past. We're only likely to know in the summer of 2022, when Marvel kicks off promotion for the film, which hits theatres in November 2022.