T’Challa is a fictional character portrayed by Chadwick Boseman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film franchise, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name and known commonly by his alter ego, Black Panther. In the films, he is depicted as king of the fictional nation of Wakanda. Boseman’s performance as Black Panther is notable as one of the first black superheroes in a big-budget film and has received acclaim.
On August 28, 2020, Boseman died after a four-year battle with colon cancer. Marvel Studios have made no indication that they intend to cancel the release of the upcoming sequel to the original Black Panther film, so it is currently unknown what direction the film will take without the protagonist of its predecessor. Fans opposed the possibility of recasting another actor as the character for the Black Panther sequel and other future MCU media in which the character was scheduled to appear, a decision that Marvel Studios denied they would make. It is currently unknown how much, if any, unreleased material has been created with Boseman portraying the character. In November 2020, Marvel Studios’ head of production Victoria Alonso denied that the studio plans to create a digital double of Boseman for the Black Panther sequel, and that Marvel would “think about what we’re going to do next and how” in order to “honor the franchise.” On December 10, 2020 Kevin Feige announced that the role would not be recast, feeling Boseman’s portrayal “transcended any previous iteration of the character in Marvel’s past.”
Infinity War and Endgame
In 2018, T’Challa brings a new robotic arm to Barnes. He then welcomes Rogers, Romanoff, Wilson, Rhodes, Bruce Banner, Maximoff, and Vision when they arrive in Wakanda, so Shuri can work on Vision. He along with the Wakandan army, Barnes, Rogers, Romanoff, Wilson, Rhodes, and Banner fight off the oncoming onslaught of Outriders and witnesses the arrival of Thor, Rocket, and Groot. However, Thanos arrives in Wakanda and completes the Infinity Gauntlet, snapping his fingers. As a result, T’Challa disintegrates.
In 2023, T’Challa is restored to life when the snap is reversed, and is the first of the disappeared Avengers to be seen, having been brought to the destroyed Avengers Headquarters, along with the Wakandan army, to join in the final battle against an alternate version of Thanos. Afterwards, he attends Stark’s funeral and returns home.
