Recent leaked concept art from the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday sparked speculation that Marvel Studios was planning to recast the role of T’Challa/Black Panther, originally played by the late Chadwick Boseman.
However, Marvel has officially denied these rumors, confirming that the character in the artwork is not T’Challa.
Marvel made the decision to retire the character of T’Challa following Boseman’s tragic death in 2020 after a private battle with cancer.
Instead of recasting, the studio honored Boseman’s legacy by exploring other characters from Wakanda, with Shuri (Letitia Wright) taking up the Black Panther mantle in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
The leaked artwork caused confusion among fans, with many speculating that Marvel was using CGI or introducing a multiversal variant of T’Challa.
However, the character shown in the concept art is actually T’Chanda, also known as Azzuri the Wise, T’Challa’s grandfather and the Black Panther during World War II.
Who Is T’Chanda?
In Marvel Comics, T’Chanda became Black Panther after defending Wakanda from Nazi invaders and fighting alongside Captain America during the war.
The character represents a powerful legacy within the Black Panther lineage, making him a fitting addition to the multiversal storyline of Avengers: Doomsday.
Marvel’s Official Statement
Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore recently addressed the rumors, stating:
“The truth is, there’s no truth to those [recast] rumors. We haven’t even started creative conversations about Black Panther 3 yet, so everything you read online is not true.”
While Marvel leaves the door open for future stories in Wakanda, the studio remains committed to honoring Chadwick Boseman’s memory by not recasting T’Challa.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to explore the Battleworld storyline, where multiple realities collide — but fans can rest assured that Boseman’s portrayal of Black Panther will remain untouched.
