‘Black Panther’ Fans Launch Petition To Recast T’Challa After Chadwick Boseman’s Passing

Chadwick Boseman

‘Black Panther’ Fans Launch Petition To Recast T’Challa After Chadwick Boseman’s Passing

Some Black Panther fans aren’t ready to say goodbye to T’Challa. 

As previously reported, actor Chadwick Boseman, who played the role in the 2017 hit Marvel film, sadly passed away after a private battle with colon cancer last year.

Shortly after, Marvel announced T’Challa would not be recast for the upcoming Black Panther sequel.

Marvel President Kevin Feige said at Disney Investor Day Dec. 10th:

“I wanted to acknowledge the devastating loss of a dear friend and member of the Marvel Studios family. Chadwick Boseman was an immensely talented actor and an inspirational individual who affected all of our lives professionally and personally. His portrayal of T’Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel’s past.”

Chadwick Boseman

His comments came after Marvel exec Victoria Alonso said Chadwick Boseman would not appear in digital form. She explained, according to The Wrap, 

“No. There’s only one Chadwick and he’s not with us. Our king, unfortunately, has died in real life, not just in fiction, and we are taking a little time to see how we return to history and what we do to honor this chapter of what has happened to us that was so unexpected, so painful, so terrible, really.”

But fans don’t want it to be over. A petition was launched on Change.org to recast T’Challa. It reads in part,

“By not recasting, it could stifle the opportunity for one of the most popular, leading Black superheroes to add on to their legacy. The #1 way to kill a legend, is to stop telling their story.”

It later clarifies,

“#RecastTChalla is not a call to replace Chadwick Boseman. (No one could ever do that.) It is not asking for an immediate replacement either. Nor is this calling for the prevention of other characters to take up the mantle of Black Panther like Shuri or anyone else. This petition is merely asking to continue the portrayal of T’Challa in the MCU. #RecastTChalla is a call to fulfill the role that Chadwick Boseman worked so hard for the world to see.”

It concludes,

“Chadwick Boseman wanted people to see the role, and not himself. He believed that the roles he took on were bigger than himself, and the role of T’Challa was no exception…He took on the role of T’Challa because he knew the history and significance of both the character and the Black Panther franchise… Even despite his cancer diagnosis, he still signed on for a Black Panther 3 film. We all should honor Chadwick Boseman for what he’s done on and off-screen because he was a superhero in real life. Marvel should continue to honor and celebrate Chadwick Boseman in as many ways as they wish without compromising the legendary character of T’Challa.”

What are your thoughts on the petition? COmment and let us know.