Marvel's Kevin Feige on Not Recasting Chadwick Boseman's Black Panther Role: 'It Was Much Too Soon'

Mar. 15, 2025

Kevin Feige (L); Chadwick Boseman.Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty; Gareth Cattermole/GettyKevin Feigeis recalling the conversations he andBlack PantherdirectorRyan Cooglerhad about moving forward with the film’s sequel after the death of starChadwick Boseman.In a newEmpirecover feature surrounding the upcoming release ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever— the sequel to the hit Boseman-led 2018 film — the Marvel Studios president, 49, said the idea of recasting Boseman’s T’Challa “felt like it was much too soon.“Bosemandied in August 2020at the age of 43 of colon cancer, andfilming for the sequel began 10 months later.Feige continued in hisEmpireinterview, “[Marvel legend]Stan Leealways said that Marvel represents the world outside your window. And we had talked about how, as extraordinary and fantastical as our characters and stories are, there’s a relatable and human element to everything we do.““The world is still processing the loss of Chad. And Ryan poured that into the story,” he added.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Chadwick Boseman as King T’Challa inBlack Panther(2018).MarvelFeige went on to say that “conversations” with Coogler, 36, regarding the sequel “were entirely about, yes, ‘What do we do next?’ ““And how could the legacy of Chadwick — and what he had done to help Wakanda and the Black Panther become these incredible, aspirational, iconic ideas — continue? That’s what it was all about,” he said.Feige first announced that Boseman’s titularrole would not be recastduring Disney’s Investor Day back in December 2020. The previous month, executive producer Victoria Alonso said that Boseman’s characterwould not be rendered digitallyeither.In January 2021, Feige toldDeadlinethatWakanda Foreverwould focus on “furthering the mythology and the inspiration of Wakanda,” as well as take on “the task ofhonoring and respecting the ongoing learnings and teachings from Chadas well.“RELATED VIDEO: Remembering Chadwick BosemanMeanwhile, Boseman was honoredwith a posthumous Emmy Awardearlier this month for his role in Marvel’sWhat If…?series. During the Creative ArtsEmmysceremony, the late actor won in the outstanding character voice-over performance category for his role as Star-Lord T’Challa in the “What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” episode.Days later,Boseman was officially named a Disney Legendat the D23 Expo. Accepting the award on his behalf was his brotherDerrick Boseman. In his remarks, according toVariety, Derrick called his late sibling “an amazing person,” and added in part that “in Chad’s case, it seems that life is imitating art.““If we pay attention in this thing called storytelling, a story is being told to us all. … Thank you for honoring my brother,” he added. “I want to say: Chad, we’ll always love you. And Mom and Dad will always love you. To me, Mom and Daddy are also legends because it takes a king and a queen to create a king.“Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverhits theaters Nov. 11.

Kevin Feige (L); Chadwick Boseman.Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty; Gareth Cattermole/Getty

Kevin Feigeis recalling the conversations he andBlack PantherdirectorRyan Cooglerhad about moving forward with the film’s sequel after the death of starChadwick Boseman.In a newEmpirecover feature surrounding the upcoming release ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever— the sequel to the hit Boseman-led 2018 film — the Marvel Studios president, 49, said the idea of recasting Boseman’s T’Challa “felt like it was much too soon.“Bosemandied in August 2020at the age of 43 of colon cancer, andfilming for the sequel began 10 months later.Feige continued in hisEmpireinterview, “[Marvel legend]Stan Leealways said that Marvel represents the world outside your window. And we had talked about how, as extraordinary and fantastical as our characters and stories are, there’s a relatable and human element to everything we do.““The world is still processing the loss of Chad. And Ryan poured that into the story,” he added.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Chadwick Boseman as King T’Challa inBlack Panther(2018).MarvelFeige went on to say that “conversations” with Coogler, 36, regarding the sequel “were entirely about, yes, ‘What do we do next?’ ““And how could the legacy of Chadwick — and what he had done to help Wakanda and the Black Panther become these incredible, aspirational, iconic ideas — continue? That’s what it was all about,” he said.Feige first announced that Boseman’s titularrole would not be recastduring Disney’s Investor Day back in December 2020. The previous month, executive producer Victoria Alonso said that Boseman’s characterwould not be rendered digitallyeither.In January 2021, Feige toldDeadlinethatWakanda Foreverwould focus on “furthering the mythology and the inspiration of Wakanda,” as well as take on “the task ofhonoring and respecting the ongoing learnings and teachings from Chadas well.“RELATED VIDEO: Remembering Chadwick BosemanMeanwhile, Boseman was honoredwith a posthumous Emmy Awardearlier this month for his role in Marvel’sWhat If…?series. During the Creative ArtsEmmysceremony, the late actor won in the outstanding character voice-over performance category for his role as Star-Lord T’Challa in the “What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” episode.Days later,Boseman was officially named a Disney Legendat the D23 Expo. Accepting the award on his behalf was his brotherDerrick Boseman. In his remarks, according toVariety, Derrick called his late sibling “an amazing person,” and added in part that “in Chad’s case, it seems that life is imitating art.““If we pay attention in this thing called storytelling, a story is being told to us all. … Thank you for honoring my brother,” he added. “I want to say: Chad, we’ll always love you. And Mom and Dad will always love you. To me, Mom and Daddy are also legends because it takes a king and a queen to create a king.“Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverhits theaters Nov. 11.

Kevin Feigeis recalling the conversations he andBlack PantherdirectorRyan Cooglerhad about moving forward with the film’s sequel after the death of starChadwick Boseman.

In a newEmpirecover feature surrounding the upcoming release ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever— the sequel to the hit Boseman-led 2018 film — the Marvel Studios president, 49, said the idea of recasting Boseman’s T’Challa “felt like it was much too soon.”

Bosemandied in August 2020at the age of 43 of colon cancer, andfilming for the sequel began 10 months later.

Feige continued in hisEmpireinterview, “[Marvel legend]Stan Leealways said that Marvel represents the world outside your window. And we had talked about how, as extraordinary and fantastical as our characters and stories are, there’s a relatable and human element to everything we do.”

“The world is still processing the loss of Chad. And Ryan poured that into the story,” he added.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Chadwick Boseman as King T’Challa inBlack Panther(2018).Marvel

Feige went on to say that “conversations” with Coogler, 36, regarding the sequel “were entirely about, yes, ‘What do we do next?’ "

“And how could the legacy of Chadwick — and what he had done to help Wakanda and the Black Panther become these incredible, aspirational, iconic ideas — continue? That’s what it was all about,” he said.

Feige first announced that Boseman’s titularrole would not be recastduring Disney’s Investor Day back in December 2020. The previous month, executive producer Victoria Alonso said that Boseman’s characterwould not be rendered digitallyeither.

In January 2021, Feige toldDeadlinethatWakanda Foreverwould focus on “furthering the mythology and the inspiration of Wakanda,” as well as take on “the task ofhonoring and respecting the ongoing learnings and teachings from Chadas well.”

RELATED VIDEO: Remembering Chadwick Boseman

Meanwhile, Boseman was honoredwith a posthumous Emmy Awardearlier this month for his role in Marvel’sWhat If…?series. During the Creative ArtsEmmysceremony, the late actor won in the outstanding character voice-over performance category for his role as Star-Lord T’Challa in the “What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” episode.

Days later,Boseman was officially named a Disney Legendat the D23 Expo. Accepting the award on his behalf was his brotherDerrick Boseman. In his remarks, according toVariety, Derrick called his late sibling “an amazing person,” and added in part that “in Chad’s case, it seems that life is imitating art.”

“If we pay attention in this thing called storytelling, a story is being told to us all. … Thank you for honoring my brother,” he added. “I want to say: Chad, we’ll always love you. And Mom and Dad will always love you. To me, Mom and Daddy are also legends because it takes a king and a queen to create a king.”

Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverhits theaters Nov. 11.

source: people.com