Michael B. Jordan has a Marvel superhero he has been dreaming of playing since he was a child, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe has now made that casting possible seven years after his debut in the franchise. Jordan is no stranger to superhero films. He has played two Marvel characters in the past. First, the actor gave life to Johnny Storm in 2015’s ill-received Fantastic Four. After that, Jordan found success as Killmonger in Black Panther, being a key element of one of the MCU’s best movies.

Michael B. Jordan has appeared in Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and the animated What If…? series as Erik Killmonger, playing both the original version of the villain — alive and as a spirit — and different multiverse variants of the character. Despite his MCU role, many fans have asked Marvel to bring back the actor. With the Multiverse Saga still having a few years left, Marvel Studios’ upcoming movies could find a way to recast Jordan, and a major new franchise update makes the actor’s casting as his childhood dream Marvel role possible.

Michael B. Jordan’s Childhood Dream Marvel Role Was To Play Black Panther

The Actor Played Two Other Marvel Roles

While Michael B. Jordan ended up playing the main villain of 2018’s Black Panther, the actor would have preferred to play the movie’s hero. In Marvel’s Black Panther: The Official Movie Special Book (via Bleeding Cool), Jordan revealed how T’Challa was important to him. The actor talked about how he was a major Marvel fan growing up, reading the comics and watching the franchise’s cartoons. Then, the star claimed he always wanted to play Black Panther, a hero he admired, saying, “Black Panther was actually always a character that I wanted to play one day when I was a kid.”

As fate would have it, Jordan played the main villain of Black Panther’s first movie, allowing him to be part of the historical moment, even if not in the role he imagined as a kid. Since Killmonger is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, the actor only had a brief role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, appearing on the Ancestral Plane to talk to Shuri. However, after an exciting Multiverse Saga report, it seems like Black Panther 3‘s story could bring back T’Challa, and Jordan would likely want to take on his childhood dream role.

T’Challa MCU Recast Reports Open The Door For Michael B. Jordan’s Marvel Return

The MCU Is Getting Ready To Bring Back A Major Character

Due to Chadwick Boseman’s tragic pᴀssing, Marvel had T’Challa die in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with Wakanda mourning his loss. After years of choosing not to recast the role, a new MCU report claims T’Challa will be recast through the multiverse. That would allow Michael B. Jordan to play his childhood dream Marvel role. Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom casting after playing Iron Man shows MCU actors can give life to two completely different prominent characters in the franchise, and with Jordan being a fan-favorite and long-time partner of Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, he could be chosen for T’Challa.

Coogler has a special partnership with the MCU actor. Jordan has appeared in every single film the director has helmed since Coogler’s first flick, the 2013 drama Fruitvale Station. Since then, the Killmonger actor has starred in four of Coogler’s five films, with Jordan making a cameo appearance in the fifth, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. That strong bond and the Multiverse Saga leave the door wide open for Michael B. Jordan to finally see his childhood dream Marvel role become real. With RDJ’s Doctor Doom casting, as well as Loki and Reed Richards variants looking different, Jordan could play T’Challa.

Why Michael B Jordan Would Be The Perfect Recast For The MCU’s T’Challa

The Marvel Actor Has The Skills For The Job

There are quite a few factors that make Michael B. Jordan the perfect successor to Chadwick Boseman as the MCU’s T’Challa. While an argument could be made for an actor who has not been in the MCU to join the franchise in the life-changing role, going with Jordan would work both in terms of legacy and acting skills. Marvel knows very well just how good of a performer Jordan is. When Black Panther was released in 2018, the actor stole every scene he was in, making audiences feel for Killmonger and his tragic origins.

Michael B. Jordan delivered one of the most nuanced villain performances in the MCU. Killing Killmonger after just one movie was a choice that did not sit well with many fans, as it was part of a negative trend the MCU does not seem to escape. However, by using the multiverse to have Jordan back as T’Challa, Marvel would at least mitigate the problem by allowing a proven fan-favorite star to return in a big role. Jordan has shown in projects like the Creed franchise and Without Remorse that he can excel in action scenes and heartwrenching moments alike.

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Jordan’s casting as T’Challa would also ensure that Boseman’s legacy continues in the hands of a friend. Back when Boseman tragically pᴀssed away, Michael B. Jordan shared a beautiful tribute to the actor on Instagram (via Glamour). In the emotional post, Jordan claimed that Boseman paved the way for him when he was only 16 and starting as an actor. The Killmonger star then went on to highlight all Boseman taught him and their bond, saying, “You are my big brother.” No one would take on the responsibility of playing T’Challa in the MCU with more respect than Jordan.

When The MCU’s Recast T’Challa Could Appear

The Original Black Panther Could Come Back Quite Soon

The original report about Marvel being now open to recasting T’Challa did not specify which movie could see the hero return. However, there are three confirmed upcoming MCU entries that could be perfect for that to happen. First up is 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday. Given how the MCU has not had an active Avengers team since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, it would make sense for Marvel to focus on the new characters introduced in the Multiverse Saga and allow Shuri to be the sole Black Panther for at least one movie. However, Chris Evans and RDJ’s MCU returns make T’Challa’s appearance possible.

Another Avengers movie emerges as an even more likely project for T’Challa’s MCU return. 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars is rumored to reboot the franchise, much like the comic book event it is based on did. As such, introducing a multiverse variant of T’Challa and making him stay as part of the new MCU alongside Shuri could work. Avengers films aside, with Black Panther 3 confirmed to be in development and Denzel Washington set to appear in the film, T’Challa will likely be back for the project, and Michael B. Jordan as the hero would be perfect.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies

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  Captain America: Brave New World

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  February 14, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Thunderbolts*

  Release Date

  
  May 2, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

  Release Date

  
  July 25, 2025
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Spider-Man Homecoming 4

  Release Date

  
  July 24, 2026
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

  Release Date

  
  May 7, 2027
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

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