Seven years after his debut in 2018’s Black Panther, Sterling K. Brown has voiced his interest in returning to the MCU, which could see him recast as a new version of T’Challa’s Black Panther. Sterling K. Brown’s N’Jobu was introduced as the younger brother of T’Chaka and the War Dog who helped Ulysses Klaue get vibranium out of Wakanda, hoping to give its power to oppressed people around the globe. While N’Jobu’s son, Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger, continued his mission years later, N’Jobu was killed by T’Chaka, removing Sterling K. Brown from the MCU.

Now, however, Sterling K. Brown has urged Marvel boss Kevin Feige to bring him back to the MCU. Given N’Jobu’s death in Black Panther, this could be difficult to pull off, but thanks to the magic of the multiverse, there is one enticing way that Brown could return. Five years after the sudden pᴀssing of Chadwick Boseman, and three years since his Black Panther succumbed to a mysterious illness in 2022’s Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios is reported to be recasting T’Challa, and Sterling K. Brown is an incredibly strong candidate.

Sterling K. Brown Wants To Come Back To The MCU

Sterling K. Brown Has Only Appeared In The MCU Once

While speaking to Variety for a cover story published in January 2025, Sterling K. Brown urged Kevin Feige to “please have [him] back,” noting that he would love the MCU to be more like Law & Order, “after a certain number of years, you gotta reset, you get to come back.” If Marvel is to grant the Academy Award-nominee his wish, there are several ways that Sterling K. Brown could be brought back to the MCU. Perhaps most notably, flashbacks or retrospective projects could explore Wakanda’s history, possibly better developing the brotherhood of T’Chaka and N’Jobu.

I feel like Marvel should be like Law & Order — after a certain number of years, you gotta reset, you get to come back. I would love to come back to the Marvel universe, absolutely. Please have me back. Please, please. Thank you.

N’Jobu could also follow in the footsteps of many characters in Marvel Comics’ history who have been resurrected or returned from the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ in a variety of interesting and often-unbelievable ways. It would perhaps be more likely that Sterling K. Brown would be recast in a new MCU role, however, which could see him take on a much more central character. Many actors have played double-roles in the MCU’s history, and after Robert Downey Jr.’s recasting as Doctor Doom, this pattern could become more prevalent, which may allow Sterling K. Brown to become the MCU’s new T’Challa.

Sterling K. Brown Would Make A Fantastic T’Challa

Chadwick Boseman Previously Played T’Challa In Six MCU Projects

Following recent reports that Marvel Studios is looking to recast T’Challa’s Black Panther, seemingly gearing up to introduce a variant of Chadwick Boseman’s Wakandan hero from across the multiverse, there has been a huge amount of speculation regarding who could take on the role. Boseman has left huge shoes to fill, which could scare off many actors Marvel approaches, but Sterling K. Brown may not be so easily swayed. Recasting T’Challa would be the best way to pay homage to Boseman and the character himself, and Brown would be a fantastic custodian of the role.

Sterling K. Brown’s acting ability is astounding, and he has proven capable time and again of delivering dramatic, captivating performances, which would translate perfectly into the regal T’Challa in the MCU. Brown has also shown off brilliant comedic skills in projects such as Brooklyn Nine-Nine and American Fiction, which would also elevate T’Challa and follow in Chadwick Boseman’s footsteps. Sterling K. Brown’s theatricality, notoriety, success and immense range makes him a clear candidate for a recast T’Challa, and the fact he’s already made his MCU debut could make this transition easier.

Sterling K. Brown’s Previous MCU Role Makes His T’Challa Recasting Easier

Sterling K. Brown Already Appeared As A Wakandan Royal

The fact that Sterling K. Brown has already made his MCU debut as a member of Wakanda’s Royal Family means it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to recast him as the Wakandan Prince-turned-King, T’Challa. Marvel will seemingly introduce a variant of T’Challa from across the multiverse, and it’s very possible that one variant somewhere out there looks like his Uncle N’Jobu, rather than the late Chadwick Boseman. This would make Sterling K. Brown’s transition from N’Jobu to T’Challa very easy, and perhaps create some fun conflict for the residents of Earth-616’s Wakanda.

It would make the most sense for Marvel Studios to introduce its new T’Challa in Phase 6’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars, perhaps setting up the new hero for a lead role in Ryan Coogler’s in-development Black Panther 3. It would be great to see Coogler and Sterling K. Brown reunite in the MCU, especially if the latter is cast as the franchise’s new T’Challa, years after his brief debut in Black Panther. It’s a tall order for anyone to take over the role from Chadwick Boseman, but Sterling K. Brown would be a fantastic choice.

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