Marvel Studios may soon recast T’Challa’s Black Panther in the MCU, and this new version of the iconic Wakandan hero could appear as soon as 2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps. T’Challa made his first appearance in the MCU back in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman. Boseman’s tragic and sudden pᴀssing in 2020 spurred Ryan Coogler to also write T’Challa out of 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and while Leтιтia Wright’s Shuri stepped up as the new Black Panther, recent reports suggest T’Challa may be returning.
Chadwick Boseman appeared in four live-action feature films as T’Challa’s Black Panther, had a posthumous cameo in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and also posthumously loaned his voice to four episodes of What If…?. Many wanted T’Challa to be recast following Boseman’s pᴀssing, but Marvel instead elected to kill off the Black Panther, leaving a huge void in the MCU. While there is speculation this void will now be filled in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars, Marvel Studios could actually debut a new version of T’Challa’s Black Panther much sooner.
T’Challa’s Black Panther Is Rumored To Be Recast In The MCU
A Variant Of T’Challa May Continue Chadwick Boseman’s Legacy
On January 7, insider Jeff Sneider reported that, shockingly, Marvel Studios is now “firmly open“ to recast T’Challa in the MCU. Sneider suggests this will be pulled off thanks to “the magic of the multiverse,” which implies that a variant of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa will be joining the MCU’s main continuity following the Multiverse Saga. This creates the opportunity for a new actor to continue Boseman’s remarkable legacy, following in his footsteps as the staunch protector of Wakanda, but this is still shrouded in mystery.
With Marvel reshuffling the deck in advance of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, and Robert Downey Jr. coming back not as Iron Man but as Doctor Doom, I’m told that the door is firmly open for T’Challa to be recast via the magic of the multiverse… I heard that an actor was actually offered the role this past fall, a couple of months after Downey’s big reveal at Comic-Con, but they turned it down, not wanting to jeopardize their career momentum by stepping into Boseman’s gigantic shoes, which may be too big to fill, even for Hollywood’s most talented Black actors… Now, it’s unclear whether T’Challa will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, or Avengers: Secret Wars, but I think it’s fair to ᴀssume that whoever is cast as the character will reprise the role in Black Panther 3, which has been discussed by everyone from Ryan Coogler to Denzel Washington.
Sneider notes that an actor had already been approached by Marvel Studios about ᴀssuming the role of T’Challa, and more recent speculation has widened this to three possible stars. None have seemingly signed up to become the Black Panther, however. This throws into question exactly when a new T’Challa might appear in the MCU. If Marvel is already looking to cast the role, it seems as though Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars would be the most likely choice, as production on the former starts very soon, but there is another wonderful possibility.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Is The Perfect Place To Debut A Variant Black Panther
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Is Set In An Alternate Universe
Scheduled to premiere on July 25, 2025, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to introduce Marvel’s First Family to the MCU, but with a twist. Instead of establishing the Fantastic Four as a superhero team in the MCU’s main continuity, First Steps will take place in an alternate, retro-futuristic, 1960s-inspired universe, slotting perfectly into the overarching narrative of the Multiverse Saga. This presents the perfect opportunity for ’60s-inspired variants of other MCU heroes to appear, which could easily include T’Challa’s Black Panther.
Now, filming for The Fantastic Four: First Steps wrapped back in November, and it doesn’t seem as though Marvel Studios has yet cast its new T’Challa. However, possible reshoots could integrate T’Challa into First Steps prior to the movie’s much-anticipated upcoming release. Since the Fantastic Four team is expected to make the move to the MCU permanently after First Steps, a variant of T’Challa’s Black Panther could easily tag along, perhaps taking inspiration from the Fantastic Four and the Black Panther’s stories from Marvel Comics.
Black Panther & The Fantastic Four Have Strong Connections In Marvel Comics
Black Panther Made His First Marvel Comics Appearance In A Fantastic Four Story
There is a great deal of precedent for the Black Panther to appear alongside the Fantastic Four in live-action, as the Wakandan hero has been on many adventures with Marvel’s First Family over the years in Marvel Comics. In fact, T’Challa made his first ever comic appearance in 1966’s Fantastic Four #52, which saw the Black Panther invite the Fantastic Four to Wakanda to help him fight Ulysses Klaw. The Black Panther went on to join the Avengers, and fought alongside the Fantastic Four several times before officially joining the team with his then-wife, Storm, in 2007.
T’Challa married Storm, a member of the X-Men and his childhood sweetheart, in 2006’s Black Panther (Vol. 4) #14, and the pair broke up in 2012’s Avengers vs. X-Men: Versus #5.
The Black Panther and Storm replaced Reed Richards and Sue Storm on the Fantastic Four team following the Civil War storyline. Similarly to the Fantastic Four, the Black Panther also has a long-running feud with Doctor Doom and the nation of Latveria, which could prove crucial to the MCU when Robert Downey Jr. debuts as Doom. T’Challa and the Fantastic Four’s strong and lengthy relationship in Marvel Comics makes The Fantastic Four: First Steps the perfect place to debut a new Black Panther in the MCU.
How T’Challa Would Be Different In The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Alternate Universe
1960s-Inspired T’Challa Would Bring Something New To The MCU
When T’Challa’s Black Panther made his first Marvel Comics appearance in the 1960s, he looked vastly different to the version that Chadwick Boseman brought to the MCU. Instead of a more heavy-duty suit of armor, the Black Panther wore a sleek bodysuit that was finished off with a cape. It would be great to see a 1960s-inspired version of the Black Panther sport a more comic-accurate costume from his classic stories, especially since the Fantastic Four costumes have also been taken back to basics.
Julia Garner, who will debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps as Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer, recently teased to ComicBook that the movie explores a “big universe.” This could hint at some major world-building occurring in the upcoming reboot, which could introduce not only an alternate version of New York City, but also an alternate Wakanda. There’s been no official news on T’Challa’s recasting in the MCU, and while it may be just wishful thinking, it would be amazing to see the MCU’s new Black Panther debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Upcoming MCU Movies
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Captain America: Brave New World
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February 14, 2025
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Thunderbolts*
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May 2, 2025
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps
- Release Date
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July 25, 2025
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Avengers: Doomsday (2026)
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Spider-Man Homecoming 4
- Release Date
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July 24, 2026
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Avengers: Secret Wars
- Release Date
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May 7, 2027
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