Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther Costume Missed 1 Key Element We’d Love To See When T’Challa Is Recast

Marvel Studios has the perfect opportunity to finally bring a missing element from T’Challa’s costume into the MCU if the Black Panther is recast. T’Challa is one of Marvel’s most notable and important superheroes, which made him an instant favorite in the MCU when the late Chadwick Boseman brought T’Challa’s Black Panther to life in Captain America: Civil War. Boseman’s sudden pᴀssing in 2020 led to T’Challa being written out of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, however, leaving a huge void in the MCU.

According to insider Jeff Sneider, Marvel Studios is “firmly open” to recasting T’Challa’s Black Panther in the MCU. This was avoided in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as the sequel instead dealt directly with the cast, crew and audience’s grief of losing both Chadwick Boseman and T’Challa, but, now, the exploration of the multiverse means a new T’Challa can debut in the MCU. This new iteration could be vastly different from Boseman’s version, and could be even more comic-accurate than the MCU’s original Black Panther.

Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa Never Wore A Cape In The MCU

Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa Wasn’t Entirely Comic-Accurate

While Chadwick Boseman did an incredible job at delivering a T’Challa full of likable qualities and a charismatic and vulnerable personality, not everything about his character stayed faithful to the Wakandan protector from Marvel Comics. Notably, Marvel Studios mᴀssively upgraded the Black Panther’s costume for the live-action MCU, making it far more modern and armored, and, crucially, removing the cape. T’Challa’s Black Panther sported a cape in his very first Marvel Comics appearance back in 1966’s Fantastic Four #52, but this hasn’t been a permanent addition.

Many superheroes sported capes in Marvel Comics which were subsequently removed in the live-action MCU. While the likes of Thor and Vision retained updated versions of their classic comic looks, the Black Panther’s cape was permanently removed for the MCU, but recasting the iconic hero now presents the opportunity for it to be reintroduced. Debuting a variant of T’Challa’s Black Panther means Marvel can take some creative liberties with the new iteration, and kitting him out with a cape would be a great development.

What Other Black Panther Costume Changes Could A Recast T’Challa Make?

A New Black Panther Could Be Very Different

A cape isn’t the only addition that Marvel Studios could make to the new Black Panther costume if T’Challa is recast in Avengers: Doomsday, Secret Wars or the MCU’s upcoming Black Panther 3. In fact, the Black Panther has sported many different costumes in Marvel Comics that could inspire the hero’s new suit in the MCU, most notably, the Black Panther’s iconic sleek bodysuit outfit that has perhaps already been glimpsed in Bashenga’s appearance in Black Panther. This is T’Challa’s most prominent costume in Marvel Comics, so would be great to see in the MCU.

Alternatively, the MCU’s new Black Panther could sport a half-mask costume, don a cloak inspired by his 1800s look, be depicted as more of a cowboy or take on his heavy-duty Man Without Fear design. The latter saw T’Challa operate as the protector of Hell’s Kitchen in Daredevil’s absence, which could be a fun story to explore following the upcoming Daredevil: Born Again series. One thing’s for sure, recasting T’Challa’s Black Panther in the MCU creates some enormous and exciting opportunities for Marvel Studios.