Black Panther, from 2018, tends to rank rather highly in general assessments of the so-called Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though not above criticism, Black Panther won over audiences with its auteur-quality direction from Ryan Coogler, immersive world-building of the “Afrofuturistic” hidden kingdom of Wakanda, Michael B. Jordan’s compelling turn as the villainous (?) Eric Killmonger, and Chadwick Boseman’s assured, regal performance as T’Challa/Black Panther. A sequel seemed assured, and is in fact coming, in November of this year. But there’s one giant hitch: Boseman, who was presumably set to star once again in the sequel, died in 2020 (a John Cazale for our time, as Ross Douthat argued).
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever presses on nonetheless. But what will Boseman’s absence mean for the sequel? Its first trailer, out yesterday, gives some taste:
Instead of embracing some kind of gimmick to keep a character played by a deceased actor alive — something Disney is not above — it seems Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is going to kill off T’Challa, and that the movie will revolve around the consequences of his death. If so, this is an appropriate decision. Just from glimpsing the trailer, it seems like the sequel will share with its predecessor an eye for spectacle and visual storytelling that elevates it above the standard blockbuster. (Though I recognize that underwater, Mayan-tinged birth from somewhere . . . ) Aside from more Wakanda world-building, it looks like there will also be an entirely new underwater civilization, led by the mysterious, tempestuous Namor (Tenoch Huerta), with which Wakanda will come into conflict. At one point, Disney beating James Cameron to the punch (his Avatar: The Way of Water will come out a month later, after many delays) with underwater theatrics would have been interesting competition, but now Disney owns both franchises, so who cares? (Though it will be interesting to see how Marvel differentiates its underwater kingdom from that of DC’s Aquaman.)
My interest in Marvel is flagging somewhat (though not entirely) post–Avengers: Endgame, but I think this all has a lot of potential. One question remains unanswered, however: Who will step up as Black Panther? Boseman’s absence would have left a large hole in the movie even if it decided not to double down on that absence. The trailer indicates that someone will end up being a Black Panther. Will whoever takes on the mantle be a sufficiently engaging presence around which to anchor a Boseman-less sequel? We shall see. But if not, all the spectacle in the world may not be able to distract us from his absence.