Chadwick Boseman remains greatly missed following his death from colon cancer at the age of 43 in 2020. His legacy remains fully intact, though, and part of that is due to the warm ways in which so many people continue to talk about him. Boseman crossed paths with more than a few notable actors during his lifetime, and one of them is fellow Oscar nominee Colman Domingo. The Sing Sing lead recently reflected on his friendship with Boseman, and he specifically shared one warm gesture that really touched my heart.

Domingo and Boseman co-starred in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and, while speaking to THR, Domingo spoke lovingly about collaborating with him on that August Wilson adaptation. Before they worked on that film, though, the two stars only knew each other casually and had met on a few occasions. Domingo specifically remembered one instance in which he met Boseman shortly after Black Panther smashed box office records. As the Rustin star recalled, the exchange began when he approached the Marvel actor at a party:

Colman Domingo wasn’t the household name that he is today when he rubbed shoulders with Chadwick Boseman at that point in his career. So the fact that Boseman would go out of his way to hype up Domingo at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Night Before party speaks volumes. I continue to be a fan of Boseman’s body of work but, the more I hear about him from others, I appreciate his apparent kindness and classiness even more. Domingo also emphasized the rare position that both he and Boseman have been in:

Domingo makes a good point in that only a handful of African American male actors manage to break through and sustain mainstream success. Sitting in that column alongside him and Boseman are the likes of Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan, who won Best Actor at the Oscars earlier this year. Domingo also mentioned Jordan when discussing Boseman’s continued impact:

Jordan has also shared warm feelings about Boseman, who he worked with on Black Panther. Amid his recent awards campaign, Jordan even revealed that he continued to honor Boseman by keeping a stuffed panther around. The Get On Up star’s death also sticks with BP director Ryan Coogler, and the filmmaker recently recalled how Boseman supported him on the set of the superhero flick and how the late actor changed his perspective on life.

Chadwick Boseman’s shadow truly looms large and, nearly six years after his passing, it remains surreal to me that he’s no longer with us. There’s comfort to be found, however, in posthumously learning about his positive actions from Colman Domingo and others.

Chadwick Boseman firmly solidified his place within the pantheon of superhero movies through his role of King T’Challa a.k.a. the Black Panther. His performance as the Marvel Cinematic Universe character has been praised, and it’s arguably been valued even more since Boseman’s death in 2020. More recently, there have been rumors about T’Challa being recast for an upcoming MCU project, though that’s far from confirmed. A DC alum has since been linked to that chatter, and he has a take on someone succeeding Boseman.

The actor in question is Aldis Hodge, whose superhero-related roles include Carter Hall/Hawkman in Black Adam and John Stewart/Green Lantern in the animated film Green Lantern: Beware My Power. As of late, Hodge’s name has been thrown into the mix when it comes to Black Panther recasting speculation. During a recent interview with 7PM in Brooklyn (which is on YouTube), Hodge was asked how he’d feel about possibly taking over for Chadwick Boseman. The actor called the situation “delicate” before saying:

Hodge is speaking nothing but facts here, in my humble opinion. In the event that someone else actually does take on the role of the T’Challa, they’ll have to be cognizant of the fact that they’re walking into something far bigger than themself. Stepping into those shoes would be quite a task, and not just from a performance standpoint. That’s because fans would surely have sky-high expectations due to the high standard Boseman set. Hodge also mentioned another factor that makes this potential recasting different from others:

So many fans still think of Chadwick Boseman fondly, and that affection also comes from those he worked with. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler recently said having Boseman’s support as he worked on that film. Also, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige recalled his final conversation with Boseman before his death, and it’s quite bittersweet in hindsight. So, I say all of this to say there’s a lot of emotional baggage surrounding this role.

As for whether T’Challa will actually be recast, that remains up in the air, though Black Panther franchise producer Nate Moore told CinemaBlend any kind of recasting would be “intentional” and not “cheap.” Rumors have also been swirling around actor Damson Idris, with reports suggesting he’ll play either a multiversal variant of T’Challa in Avengers: Doomsday. Idris has since laughed off the speculation, and Hodge also shared a funny take on whether he was up for the role:

Of course, that could always change, and Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios could decide to reach out. And, with the DC Extended Universe and DC Animated Universe continuities now done, this would be a prime time to scoop Hodge up. Still, regardless of whether he actually finds himself in contention for the role, I just appreciate how much thought he’s put into anyone following Chadwick Boseman’s panther-sized footsteps.

Right now, Letitia Wright’s Shuri is the protector of Wakanda, and fans can watch her in both Black Panther and its sequel, Wakanda Forever, which are streamable with a Disney+ subscription. Shuri and her fellow Wakandans will also return in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens in theaters on December 18, 2026.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for consistently bringing new content to fans, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that certain franchises are fan favorites, chief among them being Black Panther. Oscar-winning filmmaker recently spoke about how Marvel and Disney reacted after Chadwick Boseman's sudden death in 2020.

Boseman's passing was a shock to both his fans and collaborators, as he was having a private battle with colon cancer. Ryan Coogler issued a statement shortly after his death, and the story of Wakanda Forever was overhauled to be a tribute to the late actor's legacy. During a recent appearance at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts (via THR), Coogler spoke about how Kevin Feige and Disney CEO Bob Iger flew to speak to him mid-pandemic, offering:

How sweet is that? While one might assume that Iger and Feige were focused on upcoming Marvel movies, and the future of Black Panther, that seemingly wasn't the case. Instead they spoke to Ryan Coogler as a person in the midst of mourning, which is a refreshing attitude in an otherwise cutthroat industry.

As previously mentioned, Black Panther 2's story had to be completely redone after Chadwick Boseman's death, with Wakanda Forever being a moving meditation on grief. The cast and creatives have been honest about how hard it's been to grapple with the late actor's passing, especially when returning to set for Ryan Coogler's sophomore Marvel project. Later in that same appearance the Sinners filmmaker praised Boseman's character and talents, offering:

Clearly playing T'Challa meant a great deal to Coogler. And the Get On Up actor ended up becoming a real-life hero to countless young people of color after Black Panther was released in theaters. It's a shame that his tenure was cut short, but it's clear that his legacy is still very much with us.

The Black Panther franchise is streaming on Disney+, and the next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31st as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see what Coogler is cooking up for the third film set in Wakanda.

Many people felt a serious loss after it was announced in 2020 that Black Panther’s Chadwick Boseman died at 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer. His final movie, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, garnered him a posthumous Oscar nomination, but he lost the Best Actor award to Anthony Hopkins. Now, Boseman’s widow, Simone Ledward Boseman, is speaking about what she would have said if her husband had won that Academy Award.

X (then called Twitter) wasn’t happy with Boseman’s Oscar loss. That's somewhat understandable, given it would have been a beautiful celebration of the late actor’s final performance. Not only that but, considering that Best Actor was made the final award of that year's Academy Awards, it seemed certain that the evening was being set up to culminate with a win for Boseman. Ledward Boseman spoke to THR, as part of its oral history on the COVID-tinged ceremony of 2021, about how she would have honored her late husband had he won a posthumous Oscar:

When Chadwick Boseman won a lot of posthumous awards ahead of the 93rd Academy Awards, Simone Ledward accepted them on her late husband’s behalf. She tearfully accepted the Gotham Award for him, shared her husband’s wonderful quote while accepting his SAG Award, and gave an emotional acceptance speech for his Golden Globe win.

So, if the 42 actor had won the Oscar, Ledward would've had some sweet sentiments to share. During her chat with the trade, Ledward found her remarks and recited them:

That was so beautiful! The fact that Boseman’s widow still kept that speech on her phone after all of these years is heartbreakingly beautiful. As deserving as Anthony Hopkins was of his Oscar for The Father, it would've been sweet to hear Ledward Boseman honor her husband’s praiseworthy performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

When discussing that era of COVID as a whole, Ledward recalled how the lockdown impacted her and Boseman's lives. Fully cognizant of how hard that time was for a lot of people, Ledward shared a positive take on how it affected her life:

As for Hopkins, he wasn’t present at the ceremony, but he honored Boseman in an acceptance video, which was played the night of the ceremony. The veteran actor said he “didn’t expect to get this award,” and he also took a moment to “pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who was taken from us far too early.”

Ledward told THR she found Hopkins’ speech “very beautiful” and found it “thoughtful” of him to even mention her late spouse. It's still sad to think that the talented Boseman is no longer with us, but it's clear that his legacy lives on in those who knew him or admired his work.

You can watch Chadwick Boseman’s final Oscar-nominated role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom by streaming it using a Netflix subscription.

2016’s Captain America: Civil War remains one of the most important Marvel Cinematic Universe movies for a variety of reasons, including introducing Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, a.k.a. Black Panther. Following that memorable debut, Boseman reprsied the character for his own solo movie, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and he was supposed to return for the Black Panther sequel. Sadly, the actor died on August 28, 2020 at the age of 43, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has now shared the last thing Boseman told him before his passing.

Kevin Feige recalled this while speaking with Ryan Coogler, director of the Black Panther movies, and Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy at the dedication celebration for the Universtiy of Southern California’s Kevin Feige Division of Film & Television Production for its School of Cinematic Arts, with all three men being USC graduates. During the conversation (via THR), Feige said that during his last meeting with Chadwick Boseman, the actor shared how much fun he was having voicing an alternate version of T’Challa in the animated series What If… ?. Boseman was hoping to bring that same kind of “vibe” to Black Panther 2, but he unforunately never got to do so.

The Marvel Studios president talked about this to reflect a broader point about how he took Chadwick Boseman, as well as other colleagues and friends, for granted. With this shared universe allowing for continued colaborations with many actors and other talents, Feige just assumed he’d spend more time with Boseman once the time came to make another Black Panther movie or Avengers movie. He continued:

As for Ryan Coogler, he shared back in 2022 that he last spoke with Chadwick Boseman a few weeks before he died. The filmmaker called the actor up to get his thoughts on the Black Panther 2 script before it recevied notes from the studio. However, Coogler revealed last December that Boseman was too sick to read the script by that point. So there was never a point where a T’Challa-focused Black Panther sequel was ever in development past that stage, and after Boseman died, Coogler and Marvel decided to have T’Challa die offscreen as well and have his sister, Letitia Wright’s Shuri, succeed him in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

It’s a shame that Kevin Feige and Ryan Coogler, and really the entire world, didn’t get to spend more time with Chadwick Boseman and see him not only play T’Challa many more times, but inhabit various other roles. Boseman’s passing went on to help inspire Coogler’s latest movie, Sinners, which is nominated in 16 categories at the 98th Academy Awards. We’ll see how it fares this Sunday on ABC, and Coogler is also hard at work putting together Black Panther 3 as his next movie.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, one that's constantly releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. It's safe to say that the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, especially as the marketing campaign has begun. Im hyped to see what The Russo Brothers are bringing to the blockbuster, but Michael B. Jordan's comments about Chadwick Boseman have me in my feelings about his absence.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, but Chadwick Boseman's 2020 death obviously means T'Challa won't be included. His absence has been felt in projects like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and he'll be noticeably missing from the next two Avengers movies. During an appearance at SBIFF 2026, Jordan gushed about his relationship with the late actor, saying:

Clearly Jordan has (and continues to) have a ton of respect and love for Chadwick Boseman. He really helped to lead the Black Panther cast, encouraging his co-stars to step up their game and bring the world of Wakanda to life. That includes working hard and even staying in character while on set. Those efforts paid off, as Black Panther was a huge success when arriving in theaters.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know how instantly Black Panther became a fan favorite franchise. Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan's chemistry was part of the reason why Ryan Coogler's movie worked so well, as the Oscar-nominated Sinners star put it:

He's not wrong. While some Marvel villains have left something to be desired, Killmonger's quest for vengeance and power was an emotional, human story. And when he and T'Challa got to connect, particularly during Black Panther's ending, the two actors' chemistry exploded off the screen.

The Black Panther cast and crew has been open about their grief over Boseman, especially once they returned to set for Wakanda Forever. Michael B. Jordan went on to share how bummed he is that he won't be able to collaborate with the late actor again, saying:

One has to assume that Boseman would be included in the next Avengers movie if he was still with us today. Both Letitia Wright and Winston Duke were confirmed with the Doomsday cast announcement, so Wakanda will once again factor into the story. And I'm sure that Marvel fans will feel the late actor's absence, especially after he had such memorable roles in Infinity War and Doomsday.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

It’s awards season, and Sinners has officially graduated from “surprise hit” to full-blown phenomenon. The original, R-rated horror film arrived in theaters last year with plenty working against it. Still, after a massive theatrical run and months of sustained cultural buzz, it’s now made Oscar history in 2026 with a staggering 16 nominations, the most ever for a single film. And, even if you’ve already watched it multiple times with your HBO Max subscription (guilty), there’s a good chance you missed one of its most meaningful details: a subtle tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.

Oscar-winning production designer Hannah Beachler took to X to unpack the layered symbolism behind the film’s church set. Along with a screenshot of the church from the opening scene of the movie, in a caption, she revealed:

It’s an elegant piece of visual storytelling, and one that feels especially appropriate given the creative team behind Sinners. So let’s break down why this tribute exists in the first place.

How Sinners Honors Chadwick Boseman

The film was written and directed by Ryan Coogler, whose career was fundamentally reshaped by Black Panther. While Coogler and Michael B. Jordan have collaborated on every one of the director’s films, it was Boseman who carried Coogler’s Marvel Cinematic Universe debut into cultural history and helped redefine what a superhero movie could mean. Once you see this subtle tribute to the late star, it’s hard to unsee.

Fans have also begun pointing out additional layers embedded in the design. User @honna_ pointed out a possible visual echo of Boseman’s iconic 2018 Met Gala look. That night, he wore a regal white ensemble, topped with a sweeping cape adorned with ornate gold crosses, a striking fusion of Catholic iconography and Afrofuturist symbolism that felt intentional, reverent and deeply personal.

The visual parallel between those gold crosses and the intersecting beams inside the church in Sinners is hard to dismiss as a coincidence. Beachler’s response to that fan observation, a simple string of heart emojis, only strengthened the speculation.

Boseman’s Influence Lives Inside the Performances

The church isn’t the only place where Chadwick Boseman’s presence quietly lingers in Sinners. Behind the camera, his influence reached directly into the performances themselves, especially Michael B. Jordan’s. In an interview, Jordan explained that Ryan Coogler often used the 21 Bridges actor as an emotional and creative reference point while shaping scenes. Rather than giving technical notes, Coogler would pose a far heavier question: what would Chadwick bring to this moment?

Jordan admitted those conversations were emotionally difficult, sometimes unexpectedly so, but also clarifying. They helped unlock the tone Coogler was chasing. That choice ripples throughout Sinners. Even when the church isn’t on screen, and no overt tribute is visible, the Get On Up star’s legacy is still doing quiet work.

In that sense, Sinners doesn’t just honor Chadwick Boseman through symbolism or set design but carries him forward through process, memory, and performance. His influence is woven into the film’s emotional DNA.

And with Sinners earning a historic 16 Academy Award nominations, it’s hard to imagine the film leaving Oscar night empty-handed. If and when it takes home gold, don’t be surprised if the acceptance speeches go beyond the usual thank-yous. Chances are, more than a few of them will also acknowledge the late, great Black Panther star whose presence continues to be felt long after the final frame.

For more updates on what’s hitting theaters next, take a look at our 2026 movie calendar and start planning your next trip to the big screen.

Ryan Coogler is one of the hottest directors in Hollywood right now. Coming off the incredible success of Sinners, Coogler is riding higher than ever before. The director says he’s not taking these moments for granted, something he credits his Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman with teaching him. That wisdom all came during a time Coogler said he was constantly afraid he was going to get fired.

Ryan Coogler recently appeared on the Good Hang with Amy Poehler podcast, and the topic turned to Chadwick Boseman. Coogler talks about the fun they would have on set, despite the director being incredibly “stressed out” by the production. He says Boseman taught him to be more present in the moment and enjoy the times he had. Coogler recalled…

It’s hard to imagine Ryan Coogler dealing with imposter syndrome. His talent as a director has been clearly on display since the first time he directed Michael B. Jordan in Fruitvale Station. Coogler’s star would rise quickly after that but, perhaps, it rose a bit more quickly than he was comfortable with.

Black Panther was the biggest movie ever in the careers of both Ryan Coogler and Chadwick Boseman at the time it was made. It would not surprise anybody if both had been nothing but balls of stress that entire time. However, it seems that Boseman was much more collected, which allowed him to help his director enormously. Apparently, Coogler was constantly in fear of being fired from the film, but Boseman made a keen assurance to his collaborator. Coogler continued…

Today, Ryan Coogler is making deals with Warner Bros. that might change the way that directors work with studios for decades. He not only made one of the most successful original movies in years, but he's changing the industry. Nevermind that he made Black Panther -- one of the biggest movies in one of the biggest franchises ever. It's a really good thing he was never fired, because cinema would be poorer without Ryan Coogler.

We also certainly lost a talented actor when Chadwick Boseman passed away, but we clearly also lost a great man, who truly understood how to enjoy life and who made his friends better. Check out Boseman's work, including Black Panther, which is streamable with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, consistently releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Folks who have watched the Marvel movies in order know that certain franchises stand out as fan favorites, chief among them being Ryan Coogler's Black Panther. And actor Damson Idris recently responded to calls for him to replace late actor Chadwick Boseman in upcoming Marvel movies. Let's break it all down.

Chadwick Boseman's sudden death shocked his fans and friends alike, with Ryan Coogler changing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to honor his legacy. Idris has been asked about playing T'Challa before, and in an interview with Variety at the 2026 Golden Globes he got real about the chatter, saying:

Sounds like a healthy perspective. While the star of F1 has heard the chatter and is honored by fans wanting him to play T'Challa, it sounds like there's no plans for that casting to actually happen. Although he admitted he's a Black Panther fan just like the rest of us. We'll just have to wait and see what Coogler has planned for the developing threequel.

Shortly after the Masrshall actor died, a debate began about whether or not to replace Chadwick Boseman and continue T'Challa's story. The decision was made to kill off the character, with both the characters and cast doing a meditation on grief throughout the sequel Wakanda Forever. But with the multiverse in play, it still seems like just about anything is possible in the MCU.

Chadwick Boseman's tenure as the character ended with What If...? which was recorded prior to this death. But the character T'Challa means a great deal to fans, which is why some of them want to see another character take on the mantle. As such, the debate about who could replace him will likely continue... with Damson Idris' name continuing to be dropped online.

Fans are curious about what Ryan Coogler is planning for Black Panther 3, which is seemingly still in its early stages of development. Not much is known about what might go down in the threequel, although Denzel Washington revealed that a role is being written for him. This news broke the internet, and fans are curious about exactly who he might play.

It's currently unclear when Black Panther 3 will hit theaters. But a number of characters from Wakanda are confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, which will hit theaters on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Years after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrived in theaters as both a sequel and a farewell, Ryan Coogler is offering one of his most candid accounts yet of how limited the creative process was before Chadwick Boseman's death. The comments paint a sobering picture of a production that barely had time to begin before tragedy halted everything.

Coogler opened up during a recent conversation on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, a clip of which was later shared to Instagram. In it, the Fruitvale Station filmmaker explained that Boseman’s health had declined to the point where he was physically unable to read the sequel’s script. The admission underscores just how limited the creative process was on Wakanda Forever before Boseman passed away in August 2020. As Coogler put it:

That detail adds important context to a question fans have debated for years: how much of Wakanda Forever was actually designed with Chadwick Boseman in mind? According to Coogler, while a script did exist, Boseman’s condition meant the sequel was never truly in motion. As the Oakland native put it, it simply “wasn’t going to happen” in the way they had originally hoped. As a result, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever had to be rebuilt almost entirely from the ground up, moving forward without its star and emotional center.

The Black Panther moviemaker has spoken before about the grief that followed Boseman’s passing, but this latest reflection underscores just how sudden and destabilizing the loss was on a deeply personal level. In the same conversation, he admitted how hard it hit him to learn what Boseman had thought of him, saying:

Boseman had kept his illness largely private, even from collaborators, and continued working whenever he could. That he never reached a point where he could fully engage with the sequel’s script highlights how quickly his condition worsened behind the scenes.

For Marvel Studios, the question of whether to recast T’Challa became one of the most difficult decisions in the history of the MCU. Ultimately, Coogler and the studio chose to let Boseman’s take on Black Panther rest, reshaping Wakanda Forever into a story centered on mourning and legacy. Characters like Shuri, Queen Ramonda, and Namor stepped into the spotlight, allowing the film to process loss both within the narrative and for the people making it.

The Creed helmer has previously described making the film as one of the hardest experiences of his career. The director has repeatedly said he considered walking away entirely, unsure whether continuing without the late T'Challa actor was even possible. It was encouragement from Boseman’s family and the cast that ultimately convinced him to keep going, with the understanding that the film would serve as a tribute rather than a replacement.

Those feelings carried through the entire production, something the cast has echoed repeatedly since the film’s release. Speaking around the time of the premiere, Lupita Nyong'o said the story deliberately embraced the real grief the cast was experiencing.

Danai Gurira described the sequel as being “grounded in him and rooted in the power of his spirit,” pointing to Boseman’s leadership and generosity as something that never left the set. Coogler carried that presence with him in a very literal way, wearing a necklace bearing Boseman’s image throughout filming as a reminder of what the movie was meant to honor. That influence didn’t end there either. Coogler has continued to carry Boseman’s memory forward, allowing it to inform and inspire his work beyond Wakanda Forever, including later projects like Sinners.

Hearing the Sinners director speak so plainly about how Black Panther 2 had to be reshaped after Boseman’s death makes the finished film feel even more remarkable. Wakanda Forever wasn’t built on an abandoned blueprint. It was rebuilt from the ground up, shaped by grief, memory, and a shared commitment to honoring a man who forever changed the MCU, even in his absence.

Black Panther and Wakanda Forever are both available to stream with a Disney+ subscription, along with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in release order.

Chadwick Boseman passed away in 2020 at the age of 43, and this hit Ryan Coogler, who directed him in Black Panther, hard. Though the Marvel movie was the first and only time these two worked together, they had grown incredibly close with one another, and Coogler has even admitted that he didn’t think he “would last in this industry” after the actor died. However, it turns out that Boseman’s death ended up inspiring the filmmaker’s 2025 movie release, the Golden Globe-nominated Sinners.

Ryan Coogler revealed while speaking at the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony that honored Boseman with a posthumous star. During his speech, he held up a copper bracelet that Boseman gave him after they wrapped on Black Panther, saying:

Black Panther wasn’t supposed to be the only collaboration between these men, as Ryan Coogler had big plans for Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa in his original vision for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It also stands to reason they would have found non-Marvel projects to tackle together, and Coogler figured they’d have all the time in the world to keep working with his friend. Sadly, Boseman died after a five-year battle with colon cancer, a medical condition very few of his non-family members knew about.

Five years later, Sinners hit theaters starring Michael B. Jordan, Ryan Coogler’s frequent collaborator and Chadwick Boseman’s costar on Black Panther. In a separate interview with The New York Times, Coogler said that Boseman’s passing pushed him to make the vampire movie as quickly as possible, as it was released just 15 months after it was first reported to be in development. As the writer/director explained:

Perhaps there’s another universe where Chadwick Boseman lived on to make Sinners with Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan. Maybe, instead of Smoke and Stack being twins, Jordan and Coogler could have played them as brothers born separately. That’s not to say I would exchange that version of the movie for what we got considering how it’s been critically acclaimed, including CinemaBlend’s Sinners review giving it a perfect score. Still, it’s interesting alternate history scenario to consider amidst many where Coogler and Boseman continued to collaborate.

After Chadwick Boseman died, he was posthumously seen in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which netted him a Golden Globe win and Academy Award nomination, and heard as a Star-Lord variant of T’Challa in What If… ? Season 1. Sinners has scored seven Golden Globe nominations, and we’ll see how it does in those categories when the next ceremony airs January 11 on CBS and Paramount+.

In 2025, writer/director Ryan Coogler leveled up his career in a significant way. While there are few filmmakers in modern Hollywood who have the capacity to whole cloth create a blockbuster and turn it into a major hit, that's exactly what he did this summer with the release of Sinners – a movie hailed by critics that earned over $360 million worldwide. Needless to say, the future is quite bright for Coogler... which is why it's pretty crazy to hear that he is only a few years removed from thinking that his Hollywood career was destined to be short-lived.

The director offers some eye-opening thoughts in a recent profile published by the New York Times, including his pessimistic view from a few years ago that he wasn't going to stick around making films for an extended period. The first decade of his career was an unmitigated success, following his breakout feature Fruitvale Station in 2013 with Creed and Black Panther, but then he experienced the death of his friend and close collaborator Chadwick Boseman. Said Coogler,

When Boseman passed away in the summer of 2020, Ryan Coogler was both dealt an emotional blow and given a mountain to climb professionally. The two men were working closely on the Black Panther sequel while it was in development, and the film needed to be massively changed when its would-be starred died. With Coogler dealing with such an extreme challenge, one can understand why he had doubts about his future prospects.

But here comes the twist: he was ultimately able to scale that metaphorical mountain. With themes about grief and loss paired with fascinating political commentary and outstanding set pieces, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever went from being a potential disaster to being a story of triumph. The work was hailed by critics, it was a box office success (even while theaters were still trying to recover after the pandemic), and Coogler was able to restore his own faith in his career prospects. He added,

On the immediate horizon for the filmmaker is the untitled Black Panther 3, which has been confirmed as his next directorial effort (though it has neither a known targeted start of production nor a release date. As for what he may do after that, he has a literal vision of open opportunity:

Given Ryan Coogler's talents, anything he works on at this point gains instant anticipation – and that goes for both original projects and those based on existing IP. We'll see what the future holds, but for now, everyone can continue to marvel at his latest accomplishment, as Sinners is available to stream with a HBO Max subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a well-oiled machine, one that constantly releases new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Those who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that some franchises are fan favorites, chief among them being Ryan Coogler's Black Panther. And Michael B. Jordan recently revealed the sweet memento he keeps to remind him of late actor Chadwick Boseman.

Black Panther was an Oscar-nominated success that instantly became a sensation upon its release. Boseman became a real-life hero to many as a result, which is why his sudden passing continues to be so devastating. In a video from BAFTA, Jordan revealed that he's got a stuffed panther that he keeps as a reminder of his late co-star, as he shared:

The pair of stars had great chemistry in the Marvel blockbuster, with Killmonger and T'Challa battling each other and ultimately finding some common ground through Black Panther's ending. Unfortunately Jordan and Boseman wouldn't be able to continue working together as a result of the latter actor's death. You can see the panther stuffie blow:

Michael B. Jordan had a surprise cameo in Wakanda Forever, with Killmonger speaking to Shuri in the Ancestral Plane. Overall the blockbuster was a meditation on grief, with the cast and crew using their real-life feelings about Boseman death to inform the project.

The cast of the Black Panther has been very open about their feelings of grief in the years since Chadwick Boseman passed away. While Jordan has a keepsake in his home, Lupita Nyong'o has penned tributes to her late collaborator and friend. Angela Bassett also talked about the loss, and the decision not to recast the role of T'Challa with another actor.

Michael B. Jordan's friendship with Boseman clearly continues to mean something to him, despite the years that have passed since the late actor's death. Grief comes in waves, and it's heartening to hear the way the Creed star/director honors his Black Panther co-star.

Since Wakanda Forever was very much about the loss of Boseman IRL, it should be fascinating to see where Ryan Coogler takes the franchise next. Wakanda Forever's ending left some narrative threads to pull from, specifically the revelation that T'Challa and Nakia had a child. And while Shuri is the new Panther, she's not ruling as the Queen of Wakanda.

While it remains to be seen when Black Panther 3 will arrive, both Shuri and M'Baku are expected to appear in Avengers: Doomsday when it arrives in theaters December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always growing, with new titles regularly arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that certain properties stand out as fan favorites, chief among them being Ryan Coogler's Oscar-nominated Black Panther. The world of Wakanda is beloved, as is late star Chadwick Boseman. And his wife recently explained the qualities the next Panther will need to have.

Ryan Coogler is developing Black Panther 3, which is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies. The sequel Wakanda Forever saw Shuri become the next Panther, although she chose not to rule the fictional country. Boseman was recently given a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where his wife Simone spoke to ET about what traits the future Black Panther should have to continue his legacy. In her words:

It sounds like Boseman understood the importance of his role as T'Challa/ Black Panther in the MCU. Indeed, he became a real-life hero to many young people out there, especially Black Marvel fans who finally saw themselves reflected in the shared universe. Representation is important, and it sounds like the late actor understood what his Marvel role meant to people.

Case in point: fans sent thousands of letters to Boseman's onscreen father after his death in 2020. The Get On Up actor also surprised Black Panther fans who were gushing about him. The actor's widow Simone Leonard Boseman spoke more about his understanding of the character's importance, saying:

While the MCU has taken steps in recent years to become a more diverse place, Chadwick Boseman's debut as T'Challa in Captain America: Civil War was a huge step in representation. And when Ryan Coogler assembled an outstanding team of talent for Black Panther, the world (and Oscar voters) noticed.

Aside from discernment, Boseman's wife also revealed another trait that she's hoping any future Black Panthers have in them. As she told the same outlet:

This kindness is yet another reason why the late actor was a hero to so many out there. He radiated kindness, especially for Marvel fans who were enamored by his work as T'Challa.

Exactly what Coogler has up his sleeve for the next Black Panther movie is a mystery at this time, although Denzel Washington revealed a role is being written for him. The end of Wakanda Forever left some big questions, including the reveal of T'Challa's son. So we'll have to wait and see what comes next for that fan favorite franchise.

In the meantime, Shuri and M'Baku were confirmed for the Avengers: Doomsday cast, and that title will hit theaters on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. It's currently unclear when the third Black Panther will arrive in theaters, but it's in active development now.

The death of Chadwick Boseman was a tragic event. Fans the world over mourned the loss of the actor. His death not only robbed us of all the great performances he could have produced in the decades to come, but it also required big changes to work that had already been planned... even more than we actually knew. That includes a Black Panther project that never came to be.

The most high-profile pivot required was in the production of the planned Black Panther sequel that had to go forward without Boseman, but it turns out we would have likely seen another Boseman/Marvel project had he lived. Bryan Andrews, the showrunner of the upcoming Marvel Zombies! animated series (which is spinning off from What If…?) confirmed we'll see the appearance of a voiceless T’Challa in the likeness of Boseman. He recently told ScreenRant that an entirely different spinoff from the series would have happened if the late actor were still with us. He explained…

What If…? saw different takes on the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe. One Season 1 episode saw the MCU invaded by a zombie virus, and that episode will lead into the upcoming Marvel Zombies! series, available with a Disney+ subscription. However, the second episode of the show was titled “What If…T’Challa became Star-Lord" and created a world in which the Wakandan was grabbed by the Ravagers instead of Peter Quill.

While not every MCU actor voiced their character in What If…?, Boseman did. His voice role as Black Panther on the series, in which he appeared in four episodes of the first season, is actually his final recorded performance. T’Chala appeared in the zombie episode as well, so including him in the spinoff made sense. Even if the character couldn’t be given a voice.

While recasting Chadwick Boseman has always been an option, Marvel has simply refused to do that. In live-action, the death of the actor meant the death of the character as well. It seems that even in animation, the decision was made that the MCU Black Panther is Chadwick Boseman, and that’s just the way it is. Even if he couldn’t be given a voice, that character will still be seen when possible. Andrews continued…

This potential What If…? series wasn’t even the only thing potentially cancelled as a result of Boseman’s death. A new Avengers attraction currently under construction at Disneyland Resort was, based on concept art, going to have Black Panther and Wakanda as a big part of its story. The attraction, called Avengers Infinity Defense, is now a multiverse storyline. While it’s never been stated that Boseman’s death led to the change, it’s not difficult to see the connection.

Chadwick Boseman was truly unique. Recasting him, even as a voice actor, is clearly something that Marvel doesn’t feel can truly be done. At least in animation, we can still see him again, and we will when Marvel Zombies arrives this week.

Next year, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will have another one of its massive crossover events with the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Among other things, this will put directors Joe and Anthony Russo back in charge of several MCU characters who are usually the purview of other creatives. However, Black Panther franchise director Ryan Coogler doesn’t mind, as he works closely with them when his part of the MCU is involved and says they’re really respectful.

In a recent appearance on SiriusXM radio, Ryan Coogler was asked about the appearance of Wakandans in Avengers: Doomsday, as we know from the Doomsday cast announcement that, at the very least, the new Black Panther, Letitia Wright, will appear in the film. While Coogler was able to avoid directly discussing the next Avengers film, he did talk about working with the Russos on other projects where Black Panther appeared. He said…

Black Panther made his debut in Captain America: Civil War, but it was always the plan for the character to get a solo movie. As such, Coogler was brought in to start early work on Black Panther alongside the production of Civil War. Chadwick Boseman’s casting as T’Challa for the Captain America movie was made with Coogler’s support.

Collaboration has to be an important part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Numerous writers, directors and actors are working on different projects in the franchise all at once. To make them all fit together, and to make sure one character is consistent from one movie to the next, it’s going to mean relying on the people who know those characters better.

It seems the Russo Brothers are more than happy to ask for Ryan Coogler’s assistance when it comes to getting Black Panther right. They’ve done it before, and while Coogler doesn’t say, it’s more than likely they’ve reached out to him for Doomsday as well.

Coogler’s not the only one who has collaborated with the Russo Brothers to make sure his characters are handled properly. James Gunn has talked about going over music choices with the Russos for the Guardians of the Galaxy’s part of Infinity War.

Of course, if the Russo Brothers are going to be collaborating and consulting with everybody in charge of the various MCU franchises, that’s going to be a lot more people this time around. The MCU is exponentially bigger than it was during Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Still, that work will only make Avengers: Doomsday better.

Michael B. Jordan has been collaborating with director Ryan Coogler for over a decade, but their 2025 movie release, Sinners, may be their most emotionally personal project yet. The new horror movie is part Southern gothic, part crime saga, part vampire fable, and has been a box office hit, extending the duo’s near-flawless run from Fruitvale Station to Black Panther. Jordan is now sharing some thoughts about the late Chadwick Boseman and talks about a challenge Ryan threw at him on the set of Sinners that stuck with him.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Jordan opened up about how hard Boseman’s loss hit him. He shared how Coogler caught him off guard with a tough question during production that made him think about the loss of the former T'Challa performer:

According to the Creed actor, he didn’t require further explanation, but the director’s comments changed his perspective on everything. Jordan went on to share an even more emotional connection, one to his family:

The realization hit The Wire veteran hard. Those old black-and-white photos weren’t just faded memories, but windows into real lives full of dreams, love, hustle, and pain. He continued:

Jordan’s performance in Sinners isn’t just physical or emotional, it’s ancestral in a way. And it’s clear that Boseman’s legacy was a guiding force behind his onscreen intensity. If you’ve seen the MCU movies in order, you know that the actor previously shouldered a similar emotional load when portraying Killmonger.

The recent vampire movie has Jordan pushing himself again by taking on the challenge of playing twin characters, each with their unique ways of dealing with trauma, body language, and speech styles. Pulling off both Smoke and Stack was a real technical achievement. Still, it was the emotional impact—channeling Boseman and connecting with his family’s legacy—that made his performance stand out. And that alone is worth the price of a ticket.

Sinners is currently playing in theaters. Check local listings for showtimes. You can also revisit Jordan and Boseman sharing the screen (under Coogler’s direction) in Black Panther, available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is one of the best Marvel movies, and when it came out in 2018, it was a massive moment in pop culture. Overall, the project was met with acclaim, and to this day, people proudly share their love for it. However, now, while reflecting on this massive point in his career and modern film history, the filmmaker revealed one of his “great regrets” about his time working on it.

Currently, Coogler is promoting his project on the 2025 movie schedule, Sinners. It marks another collaboration with Michael B. Jordan, and like many of their films, Sinners is getting great reviews, proving the power of Coogler’s movies. So, while discussing that and his other successful work with LeBron James for Interview Magazine, he was asked about moments where he realized his work started a “movement,” and the NBA legend asked about Black Panther specifically.

In response, the Creed director revealed he didn’t fully appreciate the moments that came with the making of his first Marvel movie and its success, explaining:

In a way, the filmmaker had points where he acknowledged what he was doing would be big. However, it sounds like he didn’t take it in as much as he would have liked to.

There were a few instances where he realized the enormity of what he was working on, like the creation of The Black Panther soundtrack, which is one of the most iconic Black movie soundtracks of all time. Referencing Kendrick Lamar’s work on the album, Coogler said:

While he had a few instances where he may have realized that Black Panther was bigger than the movie, it seems like the Sinners director didn’t let it sink in as much as he wanted to.

I get where he’s coming from. It had to be an overwhelming task to take on. Plus, he was only 30 when he made this film, and before it, he’d only made two major motion pictures – Fruitvale Station and Creed. While he didn’t need to feel this way, I can see why he said the following while speaking about this regret:

Well, I feel that. I’m sure many of us have faced impostor syndrome. Plus, looking back at various points in my life, I also regret not fully taking them in because I was too busy being stressed out about trying to make something.

Hopefully, Ryan Coogler doesn’t feel that way anymore, and he’s able to fully take in and appreciate his films the way fans do. He makes incredible movies (like Black Panther, which you can watch with a Disney+ subscription), and he deserves to enjoy the process as much as we enjoy watching his work.

So, here’s hoping he can really live in and appreciate the moment while he works on his next projects, including his upcoming Marvel movie, Black Panther 3. In the meantime, you can go see his latest success by catching Sinners in theaters now.

Chadwick Boseman debuted as T’Challa in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, and less than two years after its release, he reprised the character for his own solo movie. Ryan Coogler directed and co-wrote Black Panther, and the plan had been for Boseman to lead a sequel taking place after T’Challa’s appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Sadly, the actor passed away in August 2020, resulting in an overhauled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever making its way to the big screen in November 2022. Coogler has now shared how difficult it was for him dealing with the “complicated grief” of losing Boseman as he was putting the sequel together.

Coogler is currently making the rounds to promote his 2025 movie release Sinners, but naturally his past movies are also being discussed as he’s doing press, including Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In an interview with The Guardian, the filmmaker shared how working on the sequel actually helped for a time as he and the cast and crew as they grappled with Boseman’s death, with Coogler saying:

It was revealed after Chadwick Boseman’s passing that he’d been suffering from stage III colon cancer since 2016, and only a few non-family members knew about his condition. So with Ryan Coogler unaware of what was happening, he went about writing the Black Panther 2 script with T’Challa still front and center. During his last conversation with Boseman, he asked the actor if he wanted to read his finished script before he got notes from Marvel Studios. Boseman died a few weeks later.

As a result, Letitia Wright’s Shuri became Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s new leading hero, and like its predecessor, the sequel was also a critical and commercial success. But like Ryan Coogler explained, finishing Wakanda Forever also required him to deal with the reality that we wouldn’t see any more Boseman-led movies. Da 5 Bloods was the final movie he appeared in prior to his death, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was posthumously released in November 2020.

In a better world, we would have seen Chadwick Boseman impress on the silver screen for many more decades, and maybe Ryan Coogler might’ve directed some of them. I can’t imagine how painful it was for him to learn about his friend’s death and come to terms with that. Coogler also recently shared that of the people who starred in Black Panther, Sinners lead Michael B. Jordan was hit the hardest by Boseman’s passing.

Feel free to revisit Chadwick Boseman’s time as Black Panther by streaming his MCU appearances with your Disney+ subscription. That includes his vocal performance as an alternate universe T’Challa in several What If… ? Season 1 episodes, which came out in 2021.

One of Chadwick Boseman’s best performances has to be playing T’Challa in the MCU movies (which are streaming on your Disney+ subscription). The late actor not only brought the first Black superhero in mainstream comics to life, but he did so with a commanding presence and deep humanity. If you want to know just how far Boseman got into his superhero role, director Ryan Coogler spoke about Marvel execs “freaking out” over the actor’s impressive T’Challa accent.

Ever since Black Panther made his debut in Captain America: Civil War, he wowed audiences with his fierce combat skills and dedication to serving Wakanda. Chadwick Boseman was practically born to play T’Challa. A throwback to the Golden Globe winner training to fight as Black Panther looked like a rhythmic dance that flowed so naturally in him. Coogler spoke on an episode of The Breakfast Club (via Variety) about how the dedicated Boseman had Marvel execs “freaking out” for keeping his T’Challa accent the whole shoot:

He was quite the method actor! I can understand wanting to keep a fake accent throughout filming. As Chadwick Boseman was a South Carolina native, speaking the whole time on set in an African accent must have been a great way to ensure there were no slips of his native American accent. After all, Bryce Dallas Howard felt like that trick was effective in maintaining her fake British accent in Rocketman. If your voice is completely different from the character you’re playing, keeping the foreign dialect absolutely can be the best method to deliver a believable performance.

Chadwick Boseman’s Wakandan accent didn’t just appear out of thin air. The Get On Up actor perfected his T’Challa dialect by using the same accent coach he used for Message from the King, where he played a South African.

Once Boseman’s T’Challa accent shone through, you better believe he made sure to fight to use his Wakanda accent on screen. The higher-ups in the MCU didn’t know if Boseman was better off using his American accent or even a British accent that audiences would better recognize. However, the Oscar nominee stuck to his guns and didn’t want an “important factor” of his character to be stripped away. Therefore, T’Challa’s Wakandan accent was brought out in the actor, which reflected the heroic African king’s unique heritage and the pride of the Wakanda people.

Marvel execs “freaking out” over Chadwick Boseman’s Wakandan accent being used throughout shooting shows they must have had no idea what a method actor they hired. But the late MCU star's deep dedication to T’Challa came in full swing to not only throw a punch like a Wakandan warrior, but speak like one as well.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is consistently expanding, thanks to projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But fans who have spent years watching the Marvel moves in order know certain franchises rise to the top as fan favorites. Chief among them is Black Panther, and director Ryan Coogler recently reflected on Chadwick Boseman's legacy, and revealed which member of the Black Panther cast was the most affected by the late actor's passing.

Chadwick Boseman's death in 2020 shocked both his fans and those who knew and worked with the talented actor. Coogler reworked Wakanda Forever to honor Boseman, and during an appearance on The Breakfast Club, the acclaimed filmmaker revealed which Black Panther star struggled the most with Boseman's passing. He shared:

While plenty of the Black Panther cast has expressed their love and sense of mourning over Boseman (see Lupita Nyong'o's sweet tribute), Coogler's recollection is that his Creed collaborator was hit hard by his co-star's sudden death. It seems like they formed a strong bond bringing T'Challa and Killmonger's stories to life in the 2018 original film.

In that same conversation, Ryan Coogler explained the way that Chadwick Boseman stood out from he and Michael. B. Jordan. He offered:

Boseman was universally loved by those who knew him, as well as young MCU fans who saw him as a real-life hero. It's still upsetting that he won't appear in upcoming Marvel movies, although his legacy continued to be felt in the shared universe. Coogler shared more about what it was like working with the Marshall actor, saying:

What a legend. Despite the years that have passed since his passing, it sounds like fans and friends alike are still in the process of grieving what Boseman left behind. And it's because of this reason that fans are still debating if T'Challa should be recast in the MCU.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Thunderbolts* on May 2nd as part of the 2025 movie release list. We'll have to wait for news about the future of Black Panther.

It’s been almost five years since Chadwick Boseman died, however, his legacy lives on. Recently, in fact, some of his Black Panther co-stars, including Michael B. Jordan, reflected on their relationships with the actor. For the Creed star specifically, he got emotional while discussing his late friend and opened up about one thing that still “weighs on” him years after his death.

Jordan sat down to chat about Black Panther and Boseman specifically for the documentary Number One on the Call Sheet - which just premiered on the 2025 TV schedule and is available to stream with an Apple TV+ subscription. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, and many others spoke about the cultural impact of the Ryan Coogler movie they were part of and reflected on the death of their co-star. The Killmonger actor specifically got emotional about the topic, saying:

The actor didn’t finish his thought, and he visibly got emotional while discussing this topic. Michael B. Jordan has always been open about his relationship with Boseman, like a lot of the Black Panther cast has been, and it’s always emotional to see them get choked up about this tragic loss.

As Daniel Kaluuya said later, Boseman was a brilliant leading man who many looked up to and still do. The Nope star also explained that his co-star “helped people” and is “still helping people.” His comments ended with him noting that “it’s on us to keep that going.” And thinking about all that makes me emotional, so I can only imagine how those who knew the actor personally feel about all this.

Meanwhile, Kevin Hart said that we lost the actor far too soon to a battle with colon cancer that no one knew he was going through:

The comedian’s comments ended with him saying “too soon,” noting that the 42 star was taken from us way too early.

To this day, fans pay tribute to the T’Challa actor in various ways. Black Panther is still considered one of the best Marvel movies. Plus, his legacy lives on strong, as folks rewatch Boseman’s best movies and actors like Jordan reflect on their time working with him.

While Chadwick Boseman has been gone for a while now, it’s still hard to think about the person and talent we lost. However, thankfully, Boseman’s best performances live on in films like Black Panther (you can see him, Jordan and Kaluuya in it with a Disney+ subscription), 21 Bridges, Da 5 Bloods and more. Plus, to get more insight into his life and impact on the film industry and culture as a whole, you can see Jordan and co. candidly open up about him in Number One on the Call Sheet.

There’s so much happening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the moment, it’s easy to forget a project or two that has been mentioned on the slate of upcoming Marvel movies. Naturally, fans are hyped for the three films that are due to drop in theaters in 2025, starting this weekend with Anthony Mackie’s Captain America: Brave New World. And a lot of the story seems to be building to Avengers: Doomsday, which brings Robert Downey Jr. back to the MCU. Beyond that, though, there have been rumors and rumblings about Black Panther 3, a movie that seemingly will include Denzel Washington! Thanks, Denzel. What we don’t know, however, is what Black Panther 3 will do about T’Challa, so I asked producer Nate Moore.

Nate Moore has been around Marvel Studios since its early days, and climbed the ranks to work as a producer on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Black Panther, and Eternals. Moore has since announced that he will be leaving Marvel soon to begin pursuing his own opportunities. But before he exits, he will be producing Black Panthers 3, one of his final projects in the MCU. During a press day for the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, CinemaBlend asked Moore if he thought that MCU fans were ready to see a new actor in the role of T’Challa… either as a re-cast, or as a Multiverse version of the Wakandan hero. And Moore was thoughtfully candid when he told us:

The Black Panther franchise received an emotional blow when leading man Chadwick Boseman died following a private battle with colon cancer. The actor’s health was written into the character’s journey for the sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which saw Letitia Wright’s Shuri taking over the mantle after she failed to generate a cure for her brother. By the end of that movie, though, Marvel had introduced a son for T’Challa and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), and fans wondered if that was how Marvel planned to bring the Black Panther into a new age.

If Marvel Studios wanted to wait a little longer before this young boy could grow into the mantle, then they could go the route that they have gone with other versions of heroes such as Reed Richards, Wolverine, Johnny Storm, Spider-Man, and more. They could cast an actor to play a multiverse version of T’Challa, and rely on that hero for Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars. Then, cast an actor to play Prince T’Challa in a future Black Panther trilogy. The cards are in Marvel’s deck now.

No matter what they decide, I’m encouraged to hear from Nate Moore directly how much he and Ryan Coogler are considering the implications of their decisions. They know that fans are incredibly passionate about T’Challa as a character, and Chadwick Boseman’s legacy needs to be treated respectfully by any move Marvel makes moving forward. Let’s see if Captain America: Brave New World includes any clues as to the direction of Wakanda, and keep talking about this as the year rolls along.

While Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o isn’t on deck to appear on the 2025 movie schedule, she’s naturally a point of discussion thanks to all of the rumors surrounding Black Panther 3. Writer/director Ryan Coogler’s eventual return to the MCU is of particular interest to the world after Denzel Washington claimed his Marvel debut would be in that very picture. So someone asking The Wild Robot star about her thoughts was something that anyone could have called.

However, the answer that Ms. Nyong’o gave was one that we might all be able to take a lesson from. As she spoke with EW’s in-house podcast The Awardist, the actor who plays Wakandan spy Nakia was approached on two different fronts to discuss what’s going on with the upcoming Marvel movie in development. You can read below what Lupita Nyong’o had to share, and quite frankly, it’s refreshing:

I love to speculate as much as anyone else about what the future holds for some of my favorite franchises. The next Black Panther is a unique opportunity for such thoughts, as the rumored recasting of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa brings up a lot of possibilities for what could come next. While landing the fellow Academy Award winner and Gladiator II scene stealer would be a casting coup, in whatever role is being considered, Denzel Washington isn't exactly locked into this gig just yet.

Meanwhile, as Ms. Nyong’o said in this piece of her response to the matter, there’s a possibility that she might not even be in the next chapter. Which makes sense as Wakanda Forever’s ending saw Nakia revealing she had a secret child with the late Wakandan king. As an actor, why would you want to even imagine a movie that you may or may not be a part of?

We should also consider the emotional weight of this scenario, as Chadwick Boseman’s untimely passing is still a subject that’s fraught with bittersweet memories. I’d like to think that applies to the part of this response, in which Lupita Nyong’o addresses that potential recasting head on:

There’s tons of excitement surrounding the potential that Black Panther 3 would bring to the world. But sadly, we don’t know much about it beyond whatever clues may be lying in the past, waiting for those with a Disney+ subscription to hunt them down. So really, we all have two options: either speculate a ridiculous amount and get our hopes up, or wait it out and take things easy.

There’s no bad answers here, but I really appreciate that Lupita Nyong’o has chosen the latter option. Even in something as simple as working on or being a fan of a property such as this, it’s important to look after your own mind, and be open to whatever actually happens.

Thankfully, for Marvel fans, there are plenty of new thrills coming down the line, such as February 14th’s release of Captain America: Brave New World. And if the rumors surrounding that film’s plot are any indication, there’ll be plenty to chew over in the aftermath of that picture.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always keeping fans on their toes, thanks to content being released in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen as certain franchises became fan favorites, including Ryan Coogler's Black Panther. Fans have been wondering how the upcoming Marvel movies will continue this story, especially after Wakanda Forever's ending. Although if this wild Black Panther rumor is true, Marvel Fans Might Be Super Upset (and I don’t blame them). Let's break it down.

The original Black Panther movie was an Oscar-nominated success that became a global sensation. But the franchise hit an unexpected setback when star Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer in 2020. The sequel Wakanda Forever was a tribute to his legacy, with the cast and crew using their real-life grief in crafting their character's stories. A wild rumor from scooper Jeff Sneider claims that Marvel i going to be recasting Boseman's character T'Challa for the multiverse, and I have to assume that fans are going to be upset about this choice. After all, folks are still mourning the loss of the 21 Bridges actor.

According to this report, Marvel isn't trying to replace Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa in the main timeline of the MCU. Instead, they are seemingly trying to bring the character back in multiverse projects like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Those movies are going to lean heavily on the use of variants, which would allow for Boseman's legacy to be untouched while bringing Black Panther into whatever wild action is coming in the forthcoming blockbusters.

This is just a rumor at this point, so we should probably take it with a grain of salt. But with Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom it's clear that we'll be getting variants from the beloved members of The Avengers in the Russo Brothers' upcoming Avengers movies. So having a variant of T'Challa doesn't seem totally out of the question.

If this rumor about recasting T'Challa ends up being true, it's sure to inspire some strong reactions from Marvel fans like myself. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was a fitting tribute to Boseman, and ever since his death the last character we see during the Marvel theme song is T'Challa. So far the studio has really honored the late actor, but bringing someone else into his role might upset some of the fans who are still mourning. Boseman was a hero in real life to many, so these feelings are valid in my opinion.

Only time will tell if the rumors about T'Challa come to fruition. The Russo Brothers' movies are a few years away, so we might be wondering for a while. But the next MCU movie is Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly offering new content, both in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But those who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that certain projects, and actors, stand out as fan favorites, especially Ryan Coogler's Black Panther and late actor Chadwick Bosman. It turns out fans sent "a thousand messages" to Boseman’s Black Panther co-star after his passing, thinking he was Chad’s real dad. And he had a lovely response.

Ryan Coogler instantly became a beloved part of the MCU after debuting in Captain America: Civil War, and later starring in his own Black Panther movie. T'Challa's rise to becoming Wakanda's leader was inspired by the death of his his father T'Chaka, played by John Kani. The iconic South African actor spoke to People about how the public reached out to him after Boseman's passing, offering:

How sweet is that? While they weren't blood relatives, it sounds like John Kani did have a good relationship with Boseman before his death. And he was touched by seeing just how many fans ended up reaching out to him... even if he wasn't the late actor's actual father.

Boseman's death was a surprise both to his fans and collaborators, as he was keeping his battle with colon cancer under wraps. And despite this health struggle, he was known for having an outstanding work ethic. Later in that same interview, Kani spoke about this, sharing:

John Kani's comments seem to echo how countless collaborators who worked with Chadwick Boseman spoke about his work. It's likely for this reason that he delivered so many memorable performances before his passing, both within and outside of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And that's yet another reason why he was considered a hero to so many.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Captain America; Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

Denzel Washington seems to be nearing the end of his acting career, as the revered star has been hinting at retirement while promoting his latest film, Gladiator II. His comments suggest there’s not much more he wants to do as a thespian. Despite that, he’s not done yet and still has a number of roles he wants to play before hanging it up. Washington recently detailed his upcoming projects and, surprisingly, he revealed that Black Panther 3 is on the docket. With that, past comments that Chadwick Boseman shared about him are resurfacing.

What Exactly Did Denzel Washington Say About Black Panther 3?

It should be noted that while there are a lot of upcoming Marvel movies that have been announced, a third Black Panther film hasn’t been formally confirmed. However, the notion of another installment in Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed superhero franchise being made isn’t all that shocking. What was unexpected, however, was to hear the Equalizer star tell Australia’s The Today Show that he’s circling the film. Amid the interview, which was shared to YouTube, the Oscar winner briefly shared how that gig is coming together:

That may not be much information, but the idea of Denzel Washington joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some capacity is still so exciting. Funny enough, a few years ago Washington and Michael B. Jordan had a fun exchange about the veteran actor possibly entering the MCU. Washington didn’t seem opposed to the idea, while Jordan – who famously played Erik Killmonger in the two BP films – said he “had some ideas for that.” Considering how good the Panther films have been, I can see why Washington would be interested.

As a fan of Mr. Washington, I’m, of course, also excited for what else he has planned. He also revealed that he has a movie with Steve McQueen, King Lear as well as stage and theatrical takes on Othello on his schedule. The Training Day star continues to impress with his range and willingness to try new endeavors. Such a sentiment also applies to the late Chadwick Boseman, who died following a battle with colon cancer in 2020. Boseman’s memory lives on, though, as do the sweet sentiments he shared about Washington.

How Chadwick Boseman Paid Tribute To Denzel Washington

What some may not know is that the T’Challa actor actually owed quite a bit to the Remember the Titans star. It was revealed several years ago that Denzel Washington sponsored Chadwick Boseman while he was a student looking to study at The British American Drama Academy at Oxford for a summer program. It was a kind gesture – and one that prompted Washington to jokingly bust Boseman’s chops over years later.

The 42 star never forgot it, though and, as Empire’s Amon Warmann and others on X have shared, the late Marvel actor acknowledged that generosity while paying tribute to the Philadelphia star during the 47th AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019. Check out the video below, in which the 21 Bridges star shared some very kind words:

Chadwick Boseman and Denzel Washington would eventually end up collaborating before the former’s passing. The 2020 drama film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom was produced by Washington, and it marked Boseman’s last official film credit before his death. Later on, Washington recalled Boseman concealing his illness and applauded him for powering through production, even though he wasn’t well. As the veteran actor said, the late, great Boseman was “a man among men.”

With Denzel Washington apparently set to join the Black Panther franchise, it’s somewhat bittersweet that Chadwick Boseman is no longer with us. However, one would think that as was the case with 2022’s Wakanda Forever, Ryan Coogler and co. will seek to honor Boseman’s memory with the eventual threequel. For now, stream the first two films in the franchise while checking out the Marvel movies in order using a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe constantly puts out new content, in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. But a few franchises stand out as fan favorites, including Ryan Coogler's Black Panther. The wildly successful first movie starred late actor Chadwick Boseman, with the sequel honoring his legacy. And co-star Daniel Kaluuya recalled the sweet way that Boseman mentored him during that film, being quoted saying: "meeting Chad was a pivotal moment in my life." Let's break it down.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order noticed that Kaluuya's character W'Kabi was noticeably missing from the Black Panther 2 cast list, but he had an important supporting role in the original movie. While speaking at the BFI London Film Festival (via THR), the Get Out actor spoke about the timing of meeting Boseman on the Black Panther set. In his words:

While Kaluuya in a bonafide movie star at this point, getting into the Hollywood scene is somewhat daunting. That includes assembling a team, with Boseman offering some much-needed guidance in that regard. Once again the late actor proved he was a hero in real life.

Being on the top of the call sheet is a big responsibility for actors, especially on a wildly expensive MCU movie like Black Panther. And while he was playing the title character and secretly dealing with health issues, he still took the time to offer guidance to his co-stars. In the same interview, Daniel Kaluuya spoke more about ongoing support from the T'Challa actor, saying:

When Black Panther was released, it became clear that the cast and crew had developed a uniquely strong bond from within Wakanda. Chadwick Boseman was universally loved, which is why his passing was so devastating to those who worked with him. Daniel Kaluuya spoke more about what he brought to those around him, offering:

In the years since Chadwick Boseman's death, the cast of Black Panther have shared plenty of stories about the quality of his character, as well as his talents. This is just the latest example, and shows the legacy he left behind.

The MCU will return to theaters with Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

One might assume that a long filmography will ensure an actor has a long and enduring legacy but that is not always the case. Some of Hollywood's greatest icons and other performers you would likely recognize are noted for having relatively short careers, particularly on the silver screen. See for yourself as we look back on some of our favorite actors who were only in a handful of movies.

John Belushi

As one of the most iconic members of the original Saturday Night Live cast, it is no surprise that John Belushi went on to have a noteworthy film career, though a short one, with just seven film credits. Before he passed in 1982, he was the standout of National Lampoon's Animal House, shared the screen with his friend Dan Aykroyd in 1941, The Blues Brothers (one of the best movies based on an SNL character), and Neighbors, starred opposite Jack Nicholson in Goin' South, and was in a forgotten '80s rom-com called Continental Divide.

Mara Wilson

While she has returned to acting on the small screen a number of times in more recent years, Mara Wilson's last movie (before cameoing in 2015's Billie Bob Joe) was 2000's Thomas and the Magic Railroad, which she has claimed is the gig that made her one of the most notable child stars who stepped away from Hollywood. She had previously starred in just four other films including her debut in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, Matilda in the title role, and 1997's A Simple Wish.

Jake Lloyd

Former child actor Jake Lloyd might have been in more than just six movies — including the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led underrated holiday comedy, Jingle All the Way — if he had a better experience playing Anakin Skywalker (a young Darth Vader) in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. He would later openly discuss his struggles with criticism he faced from Star Wars movie fans about his performance which, ultimately, led him to abandon acting.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes' rise to fame on Nickelodeon as part of the All That cast and the lead of her own sketch comedy series, The Amanda Show, led to starring roles in nine films, including Big Fat Liar, She's the Man, Sydney White, and Easy A. Said 2010 high school movie would be her final acting effort after announcing via Twitter that she was retiring from acting, which was followed by reports that she was seeking treatment for her mental health.

Chadwick Boseman

Even if we count all of his Marvel movie appearances as T'Challa (including his smash-hit, 2018 solo film, Black Panther), Chadwick Boseman's cinematic filmography amounts to just 13 tiles before his untimely death in 2020 after a battle with Stage 3 Colon Cancer. Yet, he gave a stunning performance every time, from playing Jackie Robinson in 42 to James Brown in Get On Up, and his Academy Award-nominated role in Netflix's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Chris Farley

Throughout his career, Chris Farley delivered countless hilarious quotes on SNL and in a total of 10 movies — such as Tommy Boy and Beverly Hills Ninja — before his passing in 1997. A part of us still wishes we could have seen him voice the title role of Shrek, which ended up going to his Wayne's World co-star, Mike Myers.

River Phoenix

One of Hollywood's most infamous tragedies is the 1993 passing of 23-year-old River Phoenix, who starred in 13 films released between 1985 and 1994. In that short time, the Academy Award nominee (for his supporting role in 1988's Running on Empty) amassed a remarkable resume that includes Explorers, Stand By Me, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as Young Indy, and My Own Private Idaho, most notably.

Shannen Doherty

If we leave out her many cameos and just count starring roles, Shannen Doherty's film career amounts to only 13 titles, including The Secret of NIMH, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, and Heathers. Sadly, we will never get to see her reprise her role as Rene in Kevin Smith's long-awaited Mallrats sequel following her passing in 2024.

John Cazale

Before his untimely death at the age of 42 due to lung cancer, John Kazale only appeared in five films — namely The Godfather (Parts I and II), The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Deer Hunter. However, each of these titles received a Best Picture Oscar nomination, with The Godfather movies and The Deer Hunter taking home the gold.

James Dean

Sometimes we wonder if James Dean would still be one of the most enduring icons of Hollywood's Silver Age had he not succumbed to a tragic car accident in 1955 at just 24 years old. Also the definitive poster boy for "cool," the two-time Oscar nominee's talents are immortalized in just three big screen classics, namely East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Most famous for playing Randy in the Home Improvement cast and voicing Simba in 1994's The Lion King, Jonathan Taylor Thomas was one of the most beloved teen idols of the '90s, but stepped away from Hollywood almost as soon as he hit adulthood. His last real movie, also his 17th total, was an obscure animated film from 2006 called Thru the Moebius Strip and, before that, he was in 1999's Walking Across Egypt, with not much since except for a few appearances on Last Man Standing.

Willow Smith

After making her debut in one of the best Will Smith movies, 2007's I Am Legend, as her real-life father's onscreen daughter, Willow Smith went on to star in 2008's Kit Kitteridge: An American Girl and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, alongside her mother, Jada Pinkett Smith. That trio amounts to her entire film career as her primary focus ever since has been her music.

Jeff Cohen

Despite being one of the funniest standouts of the Goonies cast, the 1985, family-friend adventure classic remains Jeff Cohen's only film. He revealed to The Daily Mail that, after growing up and losing weight, his career in front of the camera began to slow down, leading him to become an entertainment lawyer who even represents his Goonies co-star, Academy Award nominee Ke Huy Quan.

Taylor Momsen

At seven years old, Taylor Momsen made quite an impression with her breakout role as Cindy Lou Who in 2000’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas — the second of nine movies she stars in, including We Were Soldiers, and Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams. However, during her stint in the Gossip Girl cast, she formed a rock band called The Pretty Reckless, which has been her primary career ever since.

Peter Ostrum

Peter Ostrum will forever be remembered as Charlie Bucket from 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, which remains his sole acting effort. Today, he makes a living as a veterinarian for large animals like cows which, we suppose, means he does continue to make some contribution to the chocolate industry after all.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy is known mostly from TV, particularly as Sam Puckett on Nickelodeon's iCarly, but would appear in 12 feature films, including Hollywood Homicide with Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett in 2003 and 2016's Pet. After writing and directing a short film called Kenny in 2018, she officially retired from acting for reasons she would detail in her best-selling memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died.

Angus T. Jones

The peak of Angus T. Jones' acting career was playing Jake Harper — the "half man" on Two and a Half Men, which he would leave due to its raunchy material before retiring from acting altogether. However, he does have six movies on his resume, including See Spot Run from 2001, 2002's The Rookie, and, in 2003, Bringing Down the House and a straight-to-video sequel to George of the Jungle as the titular jungle dweller's son.

Ross Malinger

In the 1990s, Ross Malinger led a very promising career as a child actor with 10 major film roles that included playing one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's students in Kindergarten Cop, Tom Hanks’ son in Sleepless in Seattle, and Jean-Claude Van Damme's son in 1995's Sudden Impact. However, despite many other TV credits, such as voicing T.J. on Recess, he did not star in very many other films and, according to THR, grew up to manage a car dealership.

Barret Oliver

One of the top child actors of the 1980s was Barret Oliver, who had memorable starring roles like Bastion in The NeverEnding Story, the eponymous android from D.A.R.Y.L., David in the Cocoon movies, and Vincent from Tim Burton's original Frankenweenie short. After acquiring a total of 10 major motion picture releases on his resume, he stopped acting in 1989 and now works as a a photographer who specializes in 19th-century printing processes.

Alisan Porter

Modern audiences might recognize Alisan Porter best for winning Season 10 of The Voice. Before then, she starred in seven well-known films, such as Ron Howard's Parenthood and John Hughes' Curly Sue in the title role.

Danny Lloyd

Danny Lloyd has only been in three movies: Stanley Kubrick's 1980 horror movie classic The Shining, a made-for-TV film called Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy from 1982, and 2019's Doctor Sleep. However, Mike Flanagan's sequel to The Shining only featured him in a small cameo instead of seeing him reprise his role as psychic Danny Torrance, who was then played by Ewan McGregor.

Lisa Jakub

Amid numerous TV appearances, the most notable of Lisa Jakub's nine film credits include Matinee from director Joe Dante, Mrs. Doubtfire with Robin Williams, and the alien invasion movie classic, Independence Day. In 2000, she decided to walk away from acting and now makes a living as a motivational speaker.

Ben Savage

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Fred Savage, Ben Savage got his own TV show, leading the Boy Meets World cast for seven years. However, his notable acting credits outside of playing young Cory Matthew are slim, including a film career made of just 10 titles that are not very well-known, save 1989's Little Monsters and 1994's Clifford.

Ariana Richards

As a child actor in the 1990s, Ariana Richards acquired a unique claim to fame by taking on man-eating beasts in classic monster movies Jurassic Park and Tremors. After starring in 10 features, she would go on to make a living as a painter since 2000.

Jeremy Suarez

While best known for playing Jordan Thomkins on The Bernie Mac Show, Jeremy Suarez put out 10 cinematic acting efforts, including Jerry Maguire, voicing Koda in Disney's Brother Bear, and Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie. His career slowed down the older he got and led him to pursue more normal jobs.

Carrie Henn

Carrie Henn made an impressive acting debut in one of the most iconic roles from the Alien movies, "Newt," who is discovered by Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) after becoming the sole survivor of a devastating Xenomorph attack. However, after the success of 1986's Aliens, the world never saw Henn grace the silver screen again as she would instead follow her true dream of being a teacher.

Jamie Waylett

Fans of the Harry Potter movies would surely be able to recognize Jamie Waylett as Vincent Crabbe, but they would not be able to recognize him (or spot him) from anything else. The first six installments of the coming-of-age fantasy movie franchise based on the popular book series are the only projects he has ever acted in.

Danielle Fishel

Aside from hosting Style Network's The Dish from 2008 to 2010 and co-hosting Pod Meets World with Rider Strong and Will Friedle since 2022, Danielle Fishel is best known as Topanga on Boys Meets World and, to be frank, not that much else. Her film resume is also pretty obscure and only consists of seven titles, including National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze and its sequel and 2015's Boiling Pot.

Ansel Elgort

Following his debut in the 2013 adaptation of Carrie, Ansel Elgort would go on to star in 12 other films, including The Fault in Our Stars, two Divergent movies, Baby Driver, and Steven Spielberg's West Side Story. His TV appearances are even scarcer, with his lead role on HBO's Tokyo Vice being the only small screen credit.

Luise Rainier

German actor Luise Rainier actually a relatively busy career throughout the 1930s, and even won an Academy Award for 1936's The Great Ziegfeld, but slowed down significantly beyond that decade. Between 1939 and 2003, she only appeared in three films: 1943's Hostages, 1997's The Gambler, and 2003's Poem: I Set My Foot Upon the Air and It Carried Me, bringing her grand total to 14.

Charlie Korsmo

Before becoming a lawyer, Charlie Korsmo had a short but impressive run in movies like Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy, Steven Spielberg's Hook, and the party movie favorite, Can't Hardly Wait. He would return to acting a few times to appear in 2018's Chained for Life and his ninth movie, A24's A Different Man in 2024.

Gina Carano

Gina Carano starred in 13 films, including Haywire, Deadpool, and Fast and Furious 6, but her biggest acting role would be Cara Dune from The Mandalorian. However, the former MMA star's career would slow down after she exited the Star Wars spin-off series following controversial social media posts.

The 2010s were a transformative decade for movies as directors like Damien Chazelle, Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele hit the mainstream, and many actors exploded into stardom or gave career-defining performances in movies like theirs. Now, it’s time to celebrate some of the best films of this decade and the performers who starred in them. 

Emma Stone – La La Land 

This ode to Old Hollywood and modern romance from Damien Chazelle is widely beloved in part because of Emma Stone's performance. If you go back to reviews for La La Land, you’ll see Stone and Ryan Gosling praised for their work as they played Mia and Sebastian, two aspiring artists who fall in love with each other. Notably, Emma Stone won her first Oscar for the film because of the wonderful performance she gave as the up-and-coming actress. 

Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids

When it comes to Bridesmaids and all its hilarious lines and gags, we all need to say a collective thank you to Kristen Wiig. Not only did the Saturday Night Live alum lead the stellar ensemble cast of this 2011 flick, but she also wrote the movie with Annie Mumolo, and they got an Oscar nomination for it. 

Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

Moonlight, which famously won Best Picture in 2017, is a coming-of-age film that follows Chiron through three stages of his life, focusing on him exploring his sexuality and identity. In it, Mahershala Ali plays Juan, a man who has a pivotal role in Chiron’s early life. Famously, Ali won his first Oscar for his moving performance in this film. 

Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out

Get Out is considered one of the greatest horror movies of all time, and it marked the directorial debut of Jordan Peele. While this film about the deeply dark turn a trip takes after a white woman brings her Black boyfriend home to meet her family is career-defining for its director – as he’s gone on to become quite the name in the genre – it also marked a major breakout for Daniel Kaluuya who played the film’s lead, Chris. 

Amy Adams – Arrival 

Arrival is unquestionably one of Amy Adams’ best movies, and to this day, folks are still livid that she wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for it. She plays Louise, a linguist assigned to decipher and translate an alien language. However, as Arrival’s ending makes abundantly clear, there’s way more to it than that, and one of the major reasons this movie works is because of Adams’ masterful, emotional and nuanced performance. 

J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

In Whiplash, one of J.K. Simmons’ best films, he plays a brilliant and brutal jazz conductor and instructor named Terence Fletcher. During the film, Miles Teller plays a young drummer named Andrew who is determined to become great, and his intense relationship with Terence and the notion of being the best is what makes Damien Chazelle’s film magnificent. On top of its overall acclaim, Simmons also won an Oscar for his performance.

Hugh Jackman – Logan 

Logan was Hugh Jackman’s last ride as the Wolverine, and it was basically perfect. While he’s returned to the role since in Deadpool and Wolverine, Logan still serves as a wonderful conclusion to the iconic X-Man’s story. It was also a game-changing Marvel film, as it brought a level of grit and intrigue that we hadn’t really seen in a movie from this universe before. 

Ben Affleck – Argo 

Much like Good Will Hunting, Argo marked a major milestone in Ben Affleck’s career. It was one of the films that solidified him as a top-tier director, and on top of that, he also starred in the film about a CIA agent disguised as a producer who goes into Tehran on a mission to save a group of Americans. Oh, also, the film went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars too. 

Jesse Eisenberg — The Social Network

The Social Network cast is stacked, however, it wouldn’t be what it is without Jesse Eisenberg’s performance as Mark Zuckerberg at its center. His nuanced performance which is somehow both collected and chaotic compliments Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking script perfectly, and he expertly helped build up tension in the film that director David Fincher is known for. All around, that made for a perfect, heart-pounding drama about the rise of Facebook.

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf Of Wall Street  

While Leonardo DiCaprio has a long list of career-defining performances, and he and Martin Scorsese have made many great movies together, you can’t deny that his portrayal of Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street tops that list. 

Brie Larson – Room

The film Room, which is about a mother and her son escaping captivity, is masterfully led by Brie Larson, who plays Ma. Both she and Jacob Tremblay, who played her son Jack, were praised for their performances, and in 2016, the actress won an Oscar for her work. 

Daniel Craig – Knives Out

Now, I know that Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond was still happening in the 2010s. However, an equally important and brilliant role he took on was as detective Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson’s first whodunnit Knives Out. Now, after leading the cast of Knives Out, Craig has gone on to reprise his role as the Southern detective on multiple occasions, because he loves it and so do we. 

Ryan Gosling – Drive

If you look over Ryan Gosling’s best movies, on one side you’ll find his brilliant comedic films – like Barbie and The Nice Guys – and on the other side, you’ll find his stoic and dramatic performance, like the one he gives in Drive. Put simply, Drive wouldn’t work without the actor’s lead performance, because the entire film hinges on him and his abilities. 

Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool

After years of working to get it made and some well-timed leaked footage, finally, in 2016, Deadpool came out and we got to see Ryan Reynolds in his element as the Merc with a Mouth. 

Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea 

In a film about a man returning home to reckon with his past and grief after losing his brother, Casey Affleck gives an emotional and commanding performance. Not only did he win an Oscar for his work in this drama, but it’s also one of the big defining roles of his career. 

Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

Chris Evans began and ended his tenure as Steve Rogers in the 2010s. While all his outings as the star-spangled man with a plan were excellent, nothing tops his performance as Cap in the political thriller that is the Russo brothers’ Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which is easily one of the best Marvel movies ever made. 

Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel 

Under Wes Anderson’s precise direction, Ralph Fiennes occupied the pastel world of the Grand Budapest Hotel with grace and style. His fast-talking M. Gustave went on quite the adventure in this film, and he won over the hearts of audiences with his quick wit, smooth charm and impeccable work ethic. 

Natalie Portman – Black Swan 

Throwing it back to the beginning of the decade, Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan showed us Natalie Portman’s talents in a new light. While she had been on the scene and in big movies for years, this film marked a major milestone in her career as her performance as a tortured ballerina got her an Academy Award. 

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buys Club

Obviously, for a couple of decades before this, Matthew McConaughey was known and beloved for fun movies like Dazed and Confused and How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days. However, in 2013, Dallas Buyers Club marked a notable shift in his career. Not only did he win an Oscar for this dramatic turn as a man who finds out he has AIDS, but he also went on to star in acclaimed projects like Interstellar and True Detective one year later, cementing himself as a magnificent dramatic actor with serious range. 

Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

Yes, Jennifer Lawrence leading The Hunger Games cast is one of the biggest triumphs of her career. However, amid all of that, she starred in the beloved dramedy Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley Cooper, and that’s the film for which she won her Oscar. This magnificent film about two people learning to live and thrive through grief and mental illness, is a thoughtful and funny film that Lawrence steals with her amazing performance. 

Brad Pitt – Moneyball 

Moneyball is the story about the general manager of the Oakland A’s using his business savvy and what little money his team had to assemble a rag-tag team of MLB players. Brad Pitt plays said manager, Billy Beane, and I mean it when I say the movie really wouldn’t work without him. He’s at the center of it, and he carries it to victory just like his character did with the A’s.  

Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther 

We sadly lost Chadwick Boseman way too early, however, his legacy will live on forever. This is in part because of his performance as the King of Wakanda, T’Challa. Black Panther was a historic moment in modern movie history, and his incredible take on the titular hero is a big reason why. 

Margot Robbie – I, Tonya 

Before I, Tonya, Margot Robbie was beloved for her supporting and ensemble roles in films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Suicide Squad. However, one of the movies that helped solidify her as both a leading lady and super producer was I, Tonya. She played Tonya Harding and produced the film under the banner of her company LuckyChap – which went on to make films like Barbie and Promising Young Woman. 

Florence Pugh – Midsommar

Florence Pugh exploded onto the scene with the haunting Ari Aster film Midsommar. The movie is now considered one of the best horror movies of all time, and a big reason why is Pugh’s performance. 

Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird

Talk about a dynamic duo. Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan are a match made in heaven, and that was solidified into fact when the actress played the titular Lady Bird in the director’s breakout film. Not only did fans fall in love with Ronan’s performance as the defiant teenage gal, but she also received wide acclaim and an Oscar nomination for it. Plus, it was the beginning of a glorious partnership between her and Greta Gerwig as they then went on to make Little Women together. 

Timothée Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name

These days, when people think of Timothée Chalamet, they likely think of him as Paul Atreides, the leader of the Dune cast. However, before that (and in a different decade) the film that sprung him into the mainstream was Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name. The deeply romantic and tender coming-of-age drama was led beautifully by Chalamet, and since then he’s taken on more roles that have helped cement him as one of the top-leading men of his generation. 

Anna Kendrick – Pitch Perfect

If you were a kid in 2012 (like I was), odds are you learned the “Cups” song. The movie about college acapella was a phenomenon in the early 2010s, and it served as a big breakout leading role for Anna Kendrick. Not only was she funny as Becca, but everyone also became aware that she had the singing voice of an angel.  

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years A Slave

Lupita Nyong’o’s first feature film was 12 Years A Slave. Her performance in the movie by Steve McQueen won her an Oscar in 2012 and solidified her as a top-tier dramatic performer. Since then, she’s gone on to star in massive blockbusters like Black Panther and A Quiet Place: Day One. 

Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

There have been many amazing takes on the Joker, and Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck was a totally new one. In Joker, we see the villain’s origin story, and it’s a film that’s unlike any other DC project. The haunting performance ultimately won the actor an Oscar, and he reprised the part again in Joker: Folie à Deux.

Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

The movie is named after Mad Max, and he’s great, don’t get me wrong, but Furiosa steals the show. Charlize Theron’s performance as the driver in Mad Max: Fury Road is fierce and jaw-dropping, and she’s one of many reasons why George Miller’s movie is considered one of the best action films. 

Michael Cera – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

You can’t have Scott Pilgrim vs. The World without a perfect Scott Pilgrim and that’s who Michael Cera is. He perfectly played the awkward yet heroic protagonist in Edgar Wright’s beloved film, and to this day, it's considered some of his best work.

Matt Damon – The Martian

This Ridley Scott movie is literally about one man who is stuck on Mars. Yes, there are other people in the film trying to save him. However, overall, The Martian is Matt Damon’s movie. He plays the stranded astronaut and scientist, and the heart, charisma, intelligence and even humor he brings to the space drama is unforgettable. 

All around, the 2010s were full of films that are on their way to becoming all-time classics, and it’s in part thanks to the brilliant actors who starred in them. 

On August 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman died at the age of 43 from complications related to colon cancer. Four years later, fans are naturally paying their respects today to the man who portrayed T’Challa, a.k.a. the first Black Panther, in four of the Marvel movies in order. The honoring of Boseman has also prompted debate about if T’Challa should be recast in the MCU, a topic that’s been discussed in length since his passing.

Rather than hire a new actor to play T’Challa in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios and filmmaker Ryan Coogler decided to have T’Challa die offscreen at the beginning of the 2022 movie, and his sister, Letitia Wright’s Shuri, later embraced the Black Panther mantle during Wakanda’s conflict against Namor. Nevertheless, there are still many who like to see someone else leave their stamp on T’Challa, which would be possible by pulling in a variant from elsewhere in the Marvel multiverse. @CloudyTrillion had this to say on the matter while sharing some images of Black Panther from the comics alongside Storm, with whom he was married for several years:

As seen in projects like Spider-Man: No Way Home, Loki and the recent appearance of The Cavillrine in Deadpool & Wolverine, multiverse variants don’t always have the same physical appearance, so it wouldn’t be difficult at all to have a new actor fill T’Challa’s shoes. @Nichola857139 believes that this should be a role that many actors should get to tackle, just like what’s been done with Spider-Man, Superman and Batman:

One of the ways the anniversary of Chadwick Boseman’s death was commemorated was by someone sharing the portion of the Avengers: Infinity War trailer that showed snippets of scenes set in Wakanda, including when T’Challa let out the war cry, “Yibambe!” This led @Brother_Stark to say:

That’s not to say that everyone supports T’Challa being recast, though, or at least not bringing it up on the 4th anniversary of Chadwick Boseman’s passing. @goforloki wrote this:

Finally, to end on a supportive note for the recasting debate, @yungstorydawood said this:

One thing worth remembering is that whether or not another actor is cast to take over as the original Black Panther, there is still a character named T’Challa who exists in the main MCU reality. It was revealed in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever mid-credits scene that T’Challa and Nakia had a son who was initially introduced as Toussaint, but his Wakandan name was T’Challa, too. That doesn’t mean, though, that he’ll become Black Panther when he’s an adult like his father did.

For now, Shuri continues to operate as Black Panther, although when we’ll see her again is uncertain, as Black Panther 3 isn’t officially on the upcoming Marvel movies slate, and there’s been no mention of her being involved in Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars. As for Chadwick Boseman, you can revisit his Black Panther performances with a Disney+ subscription.

Warning: Minor spoilers for A Quiet Place: Day One lie ahead.

Lupita Nyong’o has delivered numerous defining roles since her Oscar-winning role in 12 Years a Slave, which marked her feature film debut. As a whole, she's been celebrated for her powerful performances and captivating on-screen presence. Recently, she shared insights into her emotional journey while filming the recently released thriller A Quiet Place: Day One. The actress revealed that the experience was unexpectedly "therapeutic," as it helped her cope with the heartbreaking passing of Chadwick Boseman, her friend and Black Panther co-star.

The actress' connection with the late Chadwick Boseman was profound, both on and off the screen. His sudden passing in 2020 from colon cancer left a deep void in the hearts of fans and colleagues alike. In a recent interview with People, Lupita Nyong’o shared how the filming process for A Quiet Place: Day One helped her navigate through her grief. She shared:

The Us actress had a profoundly moving experience taking on the role of a woman battling an illness in A Quiet Place: Day One. In the new sci-fi thriller, the 41-year-old star steps into the shoes of Sam, a poet grappling with terminal cancer while simultaneously fending off an invasion of sound-sensitive aliens (who we have questions about).

The story begins with Sam in hospice care, surrounded by fellow patients and her beloved cat, Frodo. It’s a role that resonated deeply with Lupita Nyong’o and held significant personal meaning for her. Reflecting on the experience, she also shared:

These insights have not only reshaped the Star Wars alum's outlook on life but also influenced her acting approach. Despite Day One's mixed reactions from critics, the lead actress' performance has been widely praised. However, our own Eric Eisenberg felt the series has lost its momentum, giving the movie a two-star review. Still, it holds an 86% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes as well as a 74% audience rating on the site.

It's evident that Lupita Nyong'o's personal loss added depth and nuance to her performance. It's heartening to know that the filming process provided her with a therapeutic experience. This connection makes the A Quiet Place prequel even more of a must-see for me, and one would think that Chadwick Boseman would be more than proud of her work as well.

You can catch the Star Wars veteran actress in her new horror movie, A Quiet Place: Day One, which is now playing in theaters. Additionally, you can revisit her on-screen moments with late friend Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther, which is available for streaming with a Disney+ subscription.

And don't forget to check out our 2024 movie schedule to see what other upcoming horror movies are heading to theaters near you.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a well-oiled machine over the last decade and change, consistently releasing new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. That includes Ryan Coogler's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which crushed at the box office. In that movie Letitia Wright's Shuri was made into the new Panther, and fans are eager to see her return in an upcoming Marvel movie. And the 30 year-old actress recently explained how Chadwick Boseman’s memory inspired her while facing a serious on set injury.

Chadwick Boseman's death shocked fans and his colleagues alike back in 2020, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was reworked to honor him. Shuri actress Letitia Wright was injured on set, and recently spoke on The View about how her late co-star helped her get through it. In her words: 

How touching is that? Clearly the bond shared between these two on-screen siblings was strong. And while Wright might have been mourning, it sounds like Chadwick Boseman continued to be an inspiration during production of Wakanda Forever. And the Black Panther 2 reviews definitely praised this mixture of art and reality. 

Wright's comments on The View make a great deal of sense for those who followed the story of Chadwick Boseman's passing. His battle with colon cancer was a private one, and the context of his pain and spirit was only made obvious after his death. Indeed, Denzel Washington even talked about Boseman hiding his illness while working on Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. 

Per Letitia Wright's sentiments, it seems like the pain that came from her Black Panther 2 injury made her think of just how strong Boseman had to be while leading the first movie. Clearly the late actor continues to be a hero both for people on and off camera. 

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know how much of a splash Chadwick Boseman made when debuting as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, followed by appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Although it's Coogler's OG Black Panther movie that really shows off his talents, as well as the gorgeous world of Wakanda that the cast and crew built together.

Letitia Wright's time in the MCU is streaming now on Disney+. While we wait for information about what comes next for Shuri, check the 2025 movie release dates.

There are some movies that no matter what format they’re available in or what platform they’re streaming on, I have to revisit from time to time. As 1997’s L.A. Confidential was recently added as part of the new on Hulu movie releases, I found myself revisiting director Curtis Hanson’s award-winning noir masterpiece yet again. While it was satisfying as always, my latest watch made me even more mad that we never got the proposed L.A. Confidential sequel starring Chadwick Boseman.

The brief knowledge of that potential follow-up's hook was enough to intrigue me, with the brilliance of one of the best '90s movies only further enraging me with the extended possibilities. So instead of raging this time, I'd like to take a look at the reasons for why L.A. Confidential 2 didn't happen, and where a sequel could have even began to fit into this criminal masterpiece.

What Was Chadwick Boseman’s L.A. Confidential Sequel Supposed To Be About?

Yes, you read that correctly, L.A. Confidential 2 almost happened. Screenwriter Brian Helgeland dished the dirt on pieces of the concept in 2023, during his appearance at the Toronto International Film Festival. Reading about what it was supposed to cover is as upsetting as being reminded of the fact that the 1997 original is one of history's most notable Best Picture losers that deserved to win.

With Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce lined up to return, Chadwick Boseman was set to play a new detective in this ‘70s-set chapter. As if bringing back Officer Bud White and Detective Lieutenant Edmund Exley wasn’t enough of a lure, including the late Boseman in on the fun is too good of a prospect to turn down. 

Set against the backdrop of the Symbionese Liberation Army’s presence in L.A., Helgeland and author James Ellroy worked out “an elaborate pitch” for this project. I can practically see Chadwick Boseman butting heads with Russell Crowe, and maybe even Guy Pearce, as the legacy L.A. Confidential characters would be in very different places roughly 20 years after their last adventure.

Why An L.A. Confidential Sequel Never Happened

How does an iconic awards darling and noir favorite like L.A. Confidential fail to secure a sequel? Well, according to Brian Helgeland, the studios just weren’t biting. Netflix’s executive fell asleep during the pitch, and even Warner Bros, the studio that distributed the first installment, waved off the picture. 

The latter studio went as far as saying in its rejection, “We don’t make movies like this.” So Warner Bros., the studio that distributed L.A. Confidential, claimed through a representative that it didn't make movies like that. If you included an "anymore" at the end sentence, I might have accepted that sentiment a bit better. Especially when getting author James Ellroy on board for L.A. Confidential 2’s pitch felt like a miracle in and of itself. 

I say that because in an April 2023 appearance at The Los Angeles Times’ Book Prizes, Ellroy shared the following criticism of director Curtis Hanson’s previous film: 

Apparently Curtis Hanson's passing in 2016 was enough to open the floodgates for James Ellroy, and the man didn't hold back. Ellroy also called Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, and Kim Basinger's performances “impotent,” so to have two thirds of that cast committed to L.A. Confidential 2 could have resembled somewhat of a stumbling block. 

Yet, Ellroy was onboard with this new round, and Brian Helgeland’s revelations stated that he was enthusiastically involved with a potential sequel. The fact that it was lack of studio interest that killed this project, and not the prickly author's feelings on the previous film, is one of those twists I couldn't have seen coming. Which leads to how I think L.A. Confidential 2 would have found a way to work with the story from that previous film, while embarking on its own continuation.

How L.A. Confidential 2 Might Have Tied Into The First Film

Roughly 46 minutes into L.A Confidential  we see a scene between Lt. Ed Exley, Detective Sergeant Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), and boxer Leonard Bidwell (Robert Barry Fleming). Bidwell is asked for information pertaining to the potential Nite Owl Massacre suspects, with Leonard offering up “Sugar” Ray Collins (Jeremiah Birkett) as their person of interest.

His reasoning was to potentially shave 10 years off of his brother’s sentence in Folsom Prison, which had him in jail until 1970. That's exactly the point I think L.A. Confidential 2 would have used to work its way into continuing this sprawling narrative. Depending on how old Leonard’s unnamed brother was when he went into prison, Chadwick Boseman could play that character after his early release in 1960, or another new character that was affected by the Bidwell family’s story. 

Boseman’s protagonist could have been inspired to become a cop in order to seek justice for a past wrong, much like Ed Exley was spurred on by his father’s unsolved murder. Using that thematic thread, L.A. Confidential 2 would have had its ties firmly connected to the past, further honing the themes of its well-beloved predecessor. 

Why I’m Mad We’ll Probably Never See L.A. Confidential 2

The whole point of L.A. Confidential’s central mystery was the notion that humans, and the systems they perpetuate, can’t let anything go. The Nite Owl Case is an enigma that made heroes out of cops, and helped keep Los Angeles’ star reputation as a City of Tomorrow shiny and clean. 

And yet, even the men who benefitted from that horrific night couldn’t let the truth stay buried; which almost killed Officer Bud White and “Shotgun Ed” Exley in the process. To make a sequel means that this notion could have been explored further, especially if Chadwick Boseman’s L.A. Confidential 2 character was going to play out as I’d described above. 

That wheel of fortune would keep turning with a new story set two decades in the future, in a city that wasn’t as rosy as it once was. Just think of what that means to a young cop who’s starting out, and the veteran cops that represent the higher rungs of authority in that world.

Asking questions like that kind of helps me understand how James Ellroy may have been on board for this potential sequel. His own L.A. Quartet of books focused on the same universe of characters shown in Confidential, the third of four installments. Not to mention that some figures, like Dudley Smith (James Cromwell), even recur in Ellroy’s overall continuum of stories. 

Nothing’s ever truly over in the world of James Ellroy’s L.A., so who knows what the future could bring? While I’m mad we probably won’t see L.A. Confidential 2, there could be a renewed interest of sorts in the film with its easy availability on streaming. That sort of support could turn this unmade sequel into a thrilling prospect executives would have to stay awake for, otherwise they'd miss out.

Not only is L.A. Confidential available for you to view with a Hulu subscription, it’s also still streaming on the Netflix library. Plus, it's even available on YouTube for free with ads at the time of this publication. So there's no shortage of ways audiences can experience this noir crime classic for themselves.

You know what all of the best sports movies have in common? Well, besides featuring stories centered around football, baseball, and even roller derby? They all include tremendous performances by actors that are believable and help the audience suspend disbelief, if only for a couple of hours. However, there are also movies where the actors, despite trying their best, are a little bit outside. 

Here are 32 times actors played professional athletes and whether or not they were believable.

Burt Reynolds (The Longest Yard)

Considered to be one of the best football movies of all time, The Longest Yard (the 1974 version) features a tremendous performance by the late Burt Reynolds as Paul Crewe, a former pro quarterback who ends up in prison and leads a group of prisoners against the guards in the annual football game. At the top of his game, Reynolds is a lights-out QB and play-caller in this iconic comedy.

Margot Robbie (I, Tonya)

Margot Robbie is to die for in the 2017 sports biopic, I, Tonya, which sees her take on the role of Tonya Harding, the talented and raw figure skater who made a mark on the sport before being tied up in its most notorious controversy. While Robbie’s off-the-ice scenes are superb, her figure skating was just as impressive, which should come as no surprise.

Jamie Foxx (Any Given Sunday)

Oliver Stone’s 1999 satirical sports dramedy, Any Given Sunday, sees Jamie Foxx portray Willie "Steamin" Beamen, the third-string quarterback for the fictional Miami Sharks football team. Foxx is outstanding in his take on the young QB and does a wonderful job of showcasing the character’s on-field talents and off-the-field escapades.

Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby)

Hilary Swank won an Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald in Best Picture winner, Million Dollar Baby, and rightfully so. The talented actress told CBS News she spent three months training at a Brooklyn boxing gym before filming Clint Eastwood’s 2004 sports drama, and it shows.

Sylvester Stallone (Rocky)

Rocky is without a doubt the most well-known boxing movie of all time, and that’s mostly due to Sylvester Stallone’s commitment to the role of Rocky Balboa. Though not as bulked up as he was in later films in the franchise, Stallone has a great physical presence and ring awareness in his breakout role.

Kevin Costner (Tin Cup)

If Kevin Costner isn’t believable as a down-on-his-luck and washed-up golf pro looking for a shot at redemption and to settle an old score in Tin Cup, then I don’t know what will sell it to you. Sure, Costner seems more comfortable in baseball movies like Bull Durham and For Love of the Game, but his take on Roy McAvoy is top-notch. 

Emma Stone (Battle Of The Sexes) 

Emma Stone played tennis trailblazer Bille Jean King in the 2017 sports biopic, Battle of the Sexes, which saw her take on Steve Carell’s Bobby Riggs in the famous 1973 match of the same name. The Oscar winner does a great job when it comes to every aspect of the role, including those tense tennis scenes.

Geena Davis (A League Of Their Own)

Geena Davis looks, feels, and acts like a professional baseball player in A League of Their Own. There’s no need to suspend your disbelief when watching Davis’ Dottie Hinson lead the Rockford Peaches to one victory after another. The physicality, the presence, the believability are all there.

Chadwick Boseman (42)

Chadwick Boseman became a massive star in 2013 thanks to his celebrated portrayal of Jackie Robinson, the Professional Baseball Hall of Famer who broke the color barrier more than a half-century earlier. Boseman, who died in August 2020, was phenomenal in his performance and made the film’s various baseball sequences incredibly realistic.

Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire)

Okay, Cuba Gooding Jr.’s take on Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rod Tidwell in Jerry Maguire is killer, even when you take out the classic “Show me the money” scene. He’s cocky, brash, and hard to deal with, but he can back it up and makes the big catch to earn his team a playoff berth. We’ll let the off-field antics slide…

Tim Robbins (Bull Durham)

Bull Durham, one of the best baseball movies of all time, sees Tim Robbins play Ebby “Nuke” LaLoosh, a hot-shot young pitcher with a “million-dollar arm, but a five-cent head.” And the six-foot-five-inch Robbins very much looked and acted like a talented yet undisciplined ball player. 

Wesley Snipes (Major League)

Wesley Snipes’ Wille Mays Hayes, who could run like Hayes but not hit like Mays in Major League, was a convincing ball player in the 1989 sports classic. Yeah, he had trouble hitting the ball (part of his character), but he had unmatched speed. The scene where he runs in his pajamas in spring training is still the stuff of legend.

Charlie Sheen (Major League)

If you were to build the ultimate baseball movie team, Charlie Sheen’s Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn from Major League would have a permanent spot as the closer. To pull off the dominant pitcher’s fastball, Sheen took it to the extreme and tried out steroids, as he later told Sports Illustrated. 

Damon Wayans (The Last Boy Scout)

Tony Scott’s The Last Boy Scout is an all-time great buddy action movie, one that also features a former professional football player, or at least an actor playing one. Though we don’t see his character in action on the field, Damon Wayans just gives off the energy of a pro quarterback who lost it all. 

Carl Weathers (Rocky)

Carl Weathers’ Apollo Creed was one of the linchpins of the Rocky franchise and served as one of Sylvester Stallone’s best on-screen opponents. Weathers not only looked like a boxer with that ridiculous physique of his (especially in the later movies), but he also had that “it” factor needed to play such a flashy character.

Tom Berenger (Major League)

It’s hard to imagine anyone besides Tom Berenger playing Jake Taylor, the veteran catcher with bad knees and just enough gas left in the tank, in Major League. Throughout the movie, it feels like the Cleveland Indians’ senior slugger has been through the wringer multiple times, and that’s thanks to the incredible work of Berenger.

Chris Hemsworth (Rush)

Ron Howard’s 2013 sports biopic, Rush, features top-notch performances by Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl as James Hunt and Niki Lauda, respectively. While Brühl is great with his cool and collected demeanor, it’s Hemsworth who steals the show with his take on the self-confident and talented Formula One driver, thanks in part to the actor’s electric personality and physicality.

Paul Newman (Slap Shot)

There was no way we weren’t going to talk about Paul Newman in Slap Shot. Seriously, try to think about this beloved hockey movie with anyone else taking on Charlestown Chiefs player/coach Reggie Dunlop. Is he the most talented skater on the ice? No. But is believable in his portrayal of good, old-fashioned hockey? You bet! 

James Caan (Brian's Song)

Though James Caan was mostly recognized for his work in the latter half of Brian’s Song, this shouldn’t discount his portrayal of Brian Piccolo before he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. His take on the Chicago Bears halfback, along with Billie Dee Williams’ Gale Sayers, is phenomenal, to say the least.

Denzel Washington (The Hurricane)

Denzel Washington gave a commanding performance in the 1999 sports biopic, The Hurricane, which saw him take on the role of middleweight boxer Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter, who spent nearly 20 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of murder. Washington, once again proving he’s one of the greatest to do it, excels in the ring.

Keanu Reeves (The Replacements)

Audiences never got to see Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Utah throw a pass in Point Break, but we did get to watch the actor play another left-handed quarterback from Ohio State with his portrayal of Shane Falco in The Replacements. This is a "whatever" movie if there’s ever been one, but Reeves looks at home leading the Washington Sentinels after the regular players go on strike.

John Goodman (The Babe)

John Goodman looks like Babe Ruth in the 1992 sports biopic, The Babe, but he doesn’t really play like the Great Bambino. This isn’t a knock on Goodman’s talents as an actor, it’s just that it’s impossible to accurately imitate the unmatched talents of one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore)

Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore will probably always be considered one of the best sports comedies of all time. The movie is heavy on both humor and sports (especially if you include the hockey scenes), and Sandler pulls off both things really well. 

Raquel Welch (Kansas City Bomber)

In the 1972 sports drama, Kansas City Bomber, the late Raquel Welch played K.C. Carr, a recently retired roller games star who returns to sport to settle an old score. No surprise, Welch was great in the movie and was a dominant physical force on skates.

Robert De Niro (Raging Bull)

One of Robert De Niro’s best movies, Raging Bull, sees the Oscar winner take on the role of middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta at various stages in his life and career. De Niro, who went through a physical transformation for the part, could hold his own in the movie’s various boxing sequences and never looked out of place.

Robert Redford (The Natural)

Would saying Robert Redford looked natural in his take on Roy Hobbs in The Natural be too on the nose? Who cares! Redford’s boyish charm and remarkable swing of his trusty bat, “Wonderboy,” helped make Barry Levinson’s 1972 sports drama an all-time classic. 

Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)

Not only was Mickey Rourke outstanding in Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, but the actor’s portrayal of a washed-up Randy Robinson was also incredibly realistic. Whether he was in the ring or trying to fix the broken pieces of his life in the real world, Rourke bled, cried, and sweated like someone who had been in the squared circle for decades, not months.  

Tom Selleck (Mr. Baseball)

Mr. Baseball is one of those movies that feels like it should have been a much bigger deal, but here we are 30-plus years later with a baseball comedy that never really gets talked about anywhere besides the MLB Network. Despite this, Tom Selleck’s take on Jack Elliot, a New York Yankee who joins the Nagoya Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League, is both fun and believable. Come on, the Blood Bloods star even took an at-bat in an MLB spring training game a year before the film’s release.

Dwayne Johnson (The Tooth Fairy)

Dwayne Johnson, one of the greatest WWE Champions of all time, and a former college football player for the Miami Hurricanes, played a hockey player in the 2010 Disney movie, The Tooth Fairy. The Rock is great in just about anything, but not so much on the ice.

Will Smith (Ali)

Will Smith received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Muhammad Ali in Michael Mann’s 2001 epic sports biopic, Ali, and he did a decent enough job. The major problem with Smith’s performance doesn’t really have much to do with the actor, but instead, the man he was playing. Smith is great in the boxing sequences, but it’s hard to believe that he’s the greatest of all time and not an actor playing the iconic sports figure.

Dennis Quaid (The Rookie)

Dennis Quaid’s portrayal of Jim Morris in The Rookie is nothing short of magical. The way Quaid plays the high school chemistry teacher who becomes a major league pitcher more than a decade after his baseball dreams died is a lot of fun and believable. He has the heart and determination of the real-life Tamp Bay Devil Rays pitcher, which really carries the film.

Steve McQueen (Le Mans)

If there was a movie where Steve McQueen drives a car at a high rate of speed, you can guarantee the legendary actor looked natural doing so. That’s the case with the 1971 film, Le Mans, in which McQueen played Michael Delaney, a racer with a guilty conscience following a tragic accident. McQueen, who had experience as a race driver, looked like a natural.

Playing a professional sport is no easy task and takes years of training and dedication, but these actors did a fine job of playing athletes on the big screen. While some were better than others, each gave all they had.

As a profession, acting is something that somebody can do at virtually any age, as such few actors ever bother to retire, and simply continue to make films until the day comes that they can't anymore. As such, it's basically impossible to know when a given film will be the last performance of one of the greats. From those who tragically die young to those who continued to work for decades, This is a look at the sometimes surprising final movies by some of the world's biggest movie stars.

A couple of caveats to the forthcoming list. As the title states, we're looking at the final movies that certain actors and actresses worked on, which is not necessarily the last movie that was ever released, as sometimes movies that had been in development earlier get completed years and even decades later. We're also only considering theatrically released films, and not television movies or series. 

Heath Ledger - The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus 

Ledger's legacy is most closely tied to The Dark Knight for which he won a posthumous Oscar, but he had already moved on to filming Terry Gilliam's The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus before he died. The script was modified and saw Ledger's character "transformed" at various points, allowing three of Ledger's friends, Jude Law, Johnny Depp, and Colin Firth to all step in to collectively help complete the movie. 

Marilyn Monroe - The Misfits

Marilyn Monroe's role in the drama The Misfits was not the sort of performance that made her famous, yet her final performance, given more than a year before her death, is considered one of her best by critics today.  Monroe had been involved in another movie, Something's Gotta Give at the time of her death, but so little of the movie had been completed that production was simply halted.

 James Dean - Giant 

James Dean was an up-and-coming star when he died in a single-car accident in 1955. He only made three big screen movies before his death with East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and his final film, Giant which was released the year after his death.

John Candy - Wagons East 

Wagons East sees John Candy as a wagon master who has agreed to take a group of settlers who have decided the West isn't for them back to the East. Candy died of a heart attack during production, and stand-ins were used to finish the film so it could be released a few months later. 

Paul Walker - Furious 7

The death of Paul Walker in a tragic car accident took place during the filming of Furious 7. The movie's ending was modified to give his character a proper sendoff and his brother, along with CGI, was used to recreate Walker's likeness for a final farewell.

Bruce Lee - Enter The Dragon 

Bruce Lee's Game of Death uses a combination of the actor and a double as the martial arts expert passed away before he could finish it. However, all of Lee's scenes were shot prior to the film going on hiatus so he could film Enter the Dragon, making this the final film he shot before passing away. 

Katharine Hepburn - Love Affair

Katharine Hepburn was a four-time Oscar winner when she passed away in 2003. She was largely done with the big screen by the 1980s, but she did appear in a small role in Warren Beatty's Love Affair in 1994, the last year she worked before retiring for good. 

 Brandon Lee - The Crow 

The son of Bruce Lee was well on his way to following in his father's footsteps when his life was tragically cut short. A prop gun on the set of The Crow malfunctioned firing a projectile into Lee, which caused his death. His final scenes were filmed with stand-ins so that the movie could be completed. 

Robin Williams - Absolutely Anything

Robin Williams' death in 2014 broke the hearts of millions of fans. There would be two more chances to see (and hear) him at the movies, however. Williams' final appearance was in A Night at the Museum: Secrets of The Tomb which was released just months after his passing. His final project, however, would be as the voice of Dennis the dog in the Simon Pegg-led comedy Absolutely Anything.

Brittany Murphy - Something Wicked

Actress Brittany Murphy died unexpectedly in 2009 and her death has remained a subject of controversy to this day. Her final performance, in the psychological horror movie Something Wicked would not be seen for years as the film was not officially released until 2014.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 

Phillip Seymour Hoffman was not an actor who often appeared in major franchise movies but two of his final performances would come in the two-part finale of The Hunger Games. Mockingjay - Part 1 would be released shortly after his death in 2014. By that point the majority of his role in Mockingjay - Part 2 had been completed, making his final on-screen performance a year later.

Judy Garland - I Could Go On Singing

While Judy Garland would continue to perform right up until she died in 1969, her last years were spent on stage rather than screen. Her final film role would be in 1963's I Could Go on Singing, where she played a successful singer who attempts to bond with her estranged son.  

 John Wayne - The Shootist 

John Wayne's final film role in 1976's The Shootist was in many ways the culmination of his entire career. In the film, he plays a former Western lawman who is dying of cancer, the same disease that would take Wayne's own life three years after the film was completed. 

 Angela Lansbury - Glass Onion 

Angela Lansbury had the sort of career that many actors can only dream of. She was a beloved star of both the big and small screen. Her final appearance in a movie was on an even smaller screen, as she appears on Benoit Blanc's laptop in Glass Onion, as one of four celebrities that Daniel Craig's detective is playing video games with. 

Chadwick Boseman - Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom 

Few people knew of Chadwick Boseman's colon cancer diagnosis, which made his death in 2020 a surprise to many. His final movie, An adaptation of the August Wilson play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom for Netflix would earn the actor a posthumous Oscar nomination. 

Audrey Hepburn - Always

The iconic star of Breakfast at Tiffany's and My Fair Lady made only a handful of films once the 1960s were over. In her final film, she was directed by Steven Spielberg in one of his largely overlooked dramas, Always, in which she plays a spirit named Hap who sets recently departed Richard Dreyfuss on the right path. 

Marlon Brando - The Score 

Marlon Brando was famously difficult to work with, something that remained true up to his final performance. 2001's The Score reportedly required co-star Robert De Niro to direct his old friend, as Brando refused to be directed by Frank Oz. Brando would pass away in 2004.

Ingrid Bergman - Autumn Sonata

Most famous for the role of Ilsa in Casablanca, Ingrid Bergman starred in Autumn Sonata, written and directed by Ingmar Bergman (while the two get famously confused, there is no relation). She was nominated for her seventh Academy Award for the role. 

Dennis Hopper - The Last Film Festival

Dennis Hopper passed away during during the production of The Last Film Festival, an indie comedy in which he plays a producer who has been blackballed from every other film festival, and thus attends one in a small American town. The movie turned to Kickstarter to raise the funding needed to complete the project, which they did. 

River Phoenix - Dark Blood

For years it seemed River Phoenix's final film would be the country music drama The Thing Called Love. Phoenix was in the middle of filming the movie Dark Blood when he died in 1993, but his death seemingly ended the production. In 2011 the director picked up the unused footage and reedited it into a complete film. Dark Blood was released in 2014, after making a film festival run in 2012. 

Bette Davis - Wicked Stepmother

Bette Davis was one of the all-time greats of the silver screen, but her final appearance was maybe not up to her previous standards, which is why she reportedly left in the middle of filming. 1989's Wicked Stepmother sees Davis as a witch who marries into an unsuspecting family. The plot shifts part way through to focus on the daughter of Davis' character after the All About Eve star left the film.

Vincent Price - Edward Scissorhands

Vincent Price was one of the fathers of the modern horror movie, so it's fitting that his final big screen outing was as the father of Edward Scissorhands, a movie that blended the horror with the heartwarming in a way that only Tim Burton could. 

Sidney Poitier - The Jackal

Sydney Poitier made history as the first Black actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor in 1964. More than 30 years later he would make his final silver screen performance, as the head of the FBI in 1997's The Jackal with Bruce Willis and Richard Gere. He did do one last television movie, released in 2001 called The Last Brickmaker in America before retiring from acting. 

Humphrey Bogart - The Harder They Fall 

Humphrey Bogart created iconic screen characters from The Maltese Falcon Sam Spade to Casablanca's Rick. His character in 1956's The Harder They Fall, Bogie's last role, isn't nearly as well remembered, but Eddie Willis, the down-on-his-luck sportswriter who gets involved in a boxing scheme to throw fights is just the sort of character that Bogart did so well.

Natasha Richardson - The Wildest Dream

Natasha Richardson's death from injuries sustained in a skiing accident in 2009 shocked the entertainment world. Her final screen performance where she would be seen was 2008's Wild Child but her final work came as a voice in the documentary film The Wildest Dream which followed the story of the first man who attempted to scale Mount Everest, and the climber decades later who found his body.

Elizabeth Taylor - The Flintstones  

The live-action Flintstones movie does not exist in particularly high regard among fans, but if it is remembered at all it will likely be because it contains the final theatrical appearance of Elizabeth Taylor. She played Pearl Slaghoople, Fred Flintstone's mother-in-law.

Charlie Chaplin  - A Countess From Hong Kong 

Charlie Chaplin was one of the first movie stars the world had ever seen. When he started movies didn't even have sound. By the end they had gained, voice, color, and so much more. 1967's A Countess From Hong Kong is a work of Chaplin's primarily behind the camera, as he wrote and directed the film which stars Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren. However, he does appear briefly on screen, for one final time, in a cameo as a ship's porter.

Alan Rickman - Alice Through the Looking Glass 

Alan Rickman will be forever linked to his role of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise for a generation of movie fans. He made several more movies in the five years after that story ended. The final one, a sequel to Disney's live-action Alice in Wonderland, Alice Through the Looking Glass, where he reprised his role as Absolem, the caterpillar.

Paul Newman - The Meercats 

Paul Newman received his ninth Oscar nomination the last time he appeared on screen in 2002's Road to Perdition. His voice would remain in movies, however. In 2006 he would voice Doc Hudson in Pixar's Cars. Two years later he would narrate the documentary film The Meerkats, which would be his final performance.

Natalie Wood - Brainstorm

Natalie Wood spent her life acting. She appeared as a child in the original Miracle on the 34th Street and as an adult she wowed audiences, becoming the youngest actress ever (at the time) to be nominated for three Oscars. She died tragically by drowning in 1981 during a break in filming the sci-fi thriller Brainstorm. The movie was almost canceled, but as Wood had completed most of her major scenes, it was finished and released.

Ray Liotta - Dangerous Waters 

When Ray Liotta died in May of 2023 he was in the middle of filming the thriller Dangerous Waters. The movie would be released that October. Liotta plays the movie's villain, a man known simply as The Captain.

Ginger Rogers - Harlow

Ginger Rogers would become famous as a dancer and the frequent screen partner of Fred Astaire. Her final performance, however, would put her in a very different place. In the 1965 biopic of another great actress, Jean Harlow, Rogers plays the star's mother, who takes advantage of her daughter's fame to benefit herself.

Some final performances of great actors rank among their best. Others are clearly forgotten movies for a reason. Either way, anybody interested in the complete career of some of Hollywood's greatest will want to seek these out, if only to see how the story ends. 

It's almost hard to believe, but it's been already been 3 years since Chadwick Boseman died at the age of 43. In the time that has passed, audiences and his loved ones have collectively mourned, while Black Panther: Wakanda Forever served as a touching tribute to his legacy. His co-star Lupita Nyong’o just shared a sweet birthday message for Boseman, and Michael B. Jordan and more have voiced their approval. Get your tissues, folks.

Boseman's death shocked his colleagues and the general public, as he had privately been battling with colon cancer. This is especially true for the cast and crew of the Black Panther franchise, and Lupita Nyong'o has penned a number of tributes to her late friend and coworker. The latest of these came from an Instagram post, which showed a polaroid of the actors together promoting their Marvel movie. Check it out below:

How sweet is that? Clearly there's a ton of love shared with the cast of Black Panther, which has continued in the years since Boseman passed away. And in addition to real-life tributes to the beloved actor, smart money says his legacy will continue being honored in upcoming Marvel movies. Because while Wakanda Forever was a moving meditation on grief, other characters from the shared universe haven't reacted to King T'Challa's death yet. 

A number of Black Panther cast members have responded to Lupita Nyong'o's post in the comments section. Chief among them is Killmonger himself Michael B. Jordan, who shocked audiences when returning in Wakanda Forever. He posted a series of emojis to celebrate Boseman's birthday, which you can see blow.

Another member of the ensemble that also sounded off in the comments section is actor Winston Duke. While M'Baku might be ruling Wakanda, the Us actor still has love for the previous King. Like Jordan, he posted a series of emojis to Boseman's birthday post, namely: 

While it's been a few years since Chadwick Boseman's death, the sense of loss and mourning is seemingly still fresh for his loved ones. That includes the cast of Black Panther, who had the daunting task of filming Wakanda Forever after his passing. Lupita Nyong'o in particular is open about her feelings on social media, posting on both his birthday and on the anniversary of his death. 

Those of us who have been watching the Marvel movies in order saw the way the fandom embraced Boseman the minute he debuted in Captain America: Civil War. He was a real-life hero to young people, and his legacy will no doubt be felt for years to come. 

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Deadpool 3 on July 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is massive, and it's full of beloved franchises. A few stand out as fan favorites, including James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy. The cosmic heroes are beloved by the fandom, in no small part thanks to what the cast brings to the table. Guardians has the perfect cast, but Chadwick Boseman and other eventual Marvel stars were once looked at for roles. Let’s break it all down.

There have been a number of stories about how James Gunn and Kevin Feige cast the first Guardians movie over the years, with some actors sharing their stories. Case in point: Always Sunny actor Glen Howerton auditioned to play Star-Lord. In a piece by Vanity Fair, it was revealed that more familiar names went in for cosmic roles, only to be cast in other Marvel franchises down the line. Black Panther icon Chadwick Boseman originally went for the role of Drax, which would eventually go to Dave Bautista. The late actor’s co-star Lupita Nyong’o also auditioned for Gamora, before eventually being cast as Nakia.

It’s hard to imagine any other actors playing the members of the Guardians, but obviously Kevin Feige and company had to cast a wide net to find the perfect cast. There’s no question that Boseman and Nyong’o are talented enough to play those cosmic roles, but they were probably best used occupying Wakanda in the Black Panther franchise. 

In that same story by Vanity Fair, it was revealed that another beloved Marvel actor had originally auditioned for another role. Karen Gillan is pitch perfect as Nebula in Guardians, but she originally tried out to play Sharon Carter in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, a role that would end up going to Emily VanCamp. I suppose everything happens for a reason, as all of the actors mentioned have been great in their eventual roles.

Of course, the powers that be at Marvel likely had no idea just how popular the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise would become over the years. Despite James Gunn’s movie dealing with a lesser known group of heroes, Gunn’s unique POV and sense of humor helped it stand out among the rest of the MCU’s projects. The box office performance of Guardians 3 shows just how much the fandom loves the cosmic team, especially while other projects like Ant-Man 3 struggled to perform. 

Unfortunately, it’s unclear if/when we’ll see these heroes again. The ending of Guardians 3 saw the team all survive and go their separate ways. While title cards confirmed that Star-Lord will be back, there’s no telling when the rest of the heroes will return to the screen.

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is The Marvels on November 10th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Chadwick Boseman was a recognizable performer even before his Marvel debut but, after the success of Black Panther, the actor rose fast to superstardom. The 42 star seemingly became one of the biggest movie stars in the world overnight, and his superhero flick became a cultural phenomenon. Shortly after, the actor hosted Saturday Night Live in one of the most memorable episodes in recent memory. Apparently, we have Leslie Jones to thank for the iconic installment, because she was the one that convinced him to appear on the network mainstay. 

The veteran comedian opened up about her time with the sketch show that made her famous and her tenure on it during an interview with People. The Ghostbusters star explained that it was important to her that the show be welcoming towards Black hosts, especially considering SNLs complicated history when it comes to diversity. This welcoming attitude played a big role in how she convinced Boseman to appear on the show at the height of his fame. She said:

The result was an incredible episode, which included many memorable sketches. Popular skits like an installment of “Black Jeopardy” with Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa and a hilarious superhero-inspired parody centered around the Wakanda Forever salute were featured. SNL is a famously high-pressure environment, but the 21 Bridges actor navigated the show and the humor seamlessly. He truly was a jack-of-all-trades, able to effectively deliver a great comedic performance that stands firmly alongside much of his other celebrated work.

Leslie Jones’ experience at SNL and her experience working with the Get on Up star is one of many stories told in her new memoir, Leslie F*cking Jones. She previously said that she aims to be very open and honest in her autobiographic account of her life as a Black, female comic, who's navigating post SNL-life as a successful stand-up. She also talks about her bond with Kenan Thompson, who she felt a kinship with as one of the only other African American cast members on the show. Among the points made is their shared goal to have more Black performers featured on the NBC show.

Securing Chadwick Boseman as an SNL host clearly meant a lot to her, as she mentions the moment within such a personal story. Boseman died at 43 from colon cancer in 2020,  but all of his performances, including his week with SNL, still remain in the public consciousness. Despite that fact that he'd given so many serious performances, Leslie Jones saw his comedic potential, and he delivered. It was a major get for the NBC staple, which was able to feature a major star during an incredibly significant cultural moment. I think the show, and the world, is grateful these two met at that Black Panther after-party. 

Fans of the late actor can revisit his iconic performance in Marvel Studios' Black Panther, which is available to stream now with a Disney+ subscription. You can also check his incredible hosting stint on Saturday Night Live, as it's streamable for Peacock subscribers. 

I must admit, as a huge fan of 1997’s L.A. Confidential, I never really pegged the flick as a sequel-friendly enterprise. Adapted from author James Ellroy’s book of the same name, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce stood front and center of a hard boiled noir classic that deconstructed post-war L.A. in a style few could hope to achieve. However, knowing that Crowe and Pearce could have starred in a potential L.A. Confidential 2 with the late great Chadwick Boseman not only has me convinced this idea could have worked, but I’m now bummed this never happened.

While attending this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, screenwriter/director Brian Helgeland was on hand to promote his latest film, Finestkind. In that discussion, the Academy Award winner laid out the story of the potential sequel to his work with the late Curtis Hanson; which you can watch in the clip presented below: 

I don’t know what to be more mad about: the fact that Warner Bros, the studio that made L.A. Confidential, said “we don’t movies make like this,” or the anecdote that revealed the Netflix exec that fell asleep during this pitch. Both scenarios suck, as this iconic detective story was apparently labeled not worth pursuing. Not even with the dream team of Chadwick Boseman, Russell Crowe, and Guy Pearce attached as participants. 

Then again, the history of L A. Confidential as an IP seems to further highlight how that first movie truly was lightning in a bottle. Only a few short years after its release a TV series was pitched that would have seen Kiefer Sutherland playing one of the leads; but that project was passed on as well. That concept was revisited as recently as 2018, when CBS apparently developed their own pitch that similarly went to the big nowhere.

The more I think about it, the more I’m both bummed out and annoyed that everyone passed on a 1970’s set L.A. Confidential 2, with Chadwick Boseman at the height of his acting powers. Reuniting Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce for the occasion just makes the scenario all the more tempting. While it’s bittersweet that Boseman’s untimely passing robbed us of seeing him in this exciting role, with the right casting this might still be an idea worth pursuing. 

Even if Brian Helgeland and James Ellroy’s pitch was to get off the ground, a part of me would still be upset that this now lost pitch never got to happen in its previous form. However, I'd still love to see the pitch Helgeland and James Ellroy cooked up, as that story about Ellroy's animated presentation process is too good to leave in the darkness of "what ifs."

On the brighter side of things, Helgeland’s new movie Finestkind has already impressed our own Corey Chichizola in its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. There’s no word on when exactly this new project will hit the 2023 movie release schedule, just that it will be debuting sometime in November for those with access to a Paramount+ subscription.

On August 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman passed away at the age of 43 due to complications from colon cancer. Because the actor had kept his condition a secret to all but a select few, his death came as a shock to not just the public, but many within his professional sphere. This included his Black Panther co-star Lupita Nyong’o, and three years after his passing, the actress has penned a heartwarming tribute to her late colleague/friend.

Taking to her Instagram page, the 12 Years a Slave actress started off recalling how learning about Boseman’s death left her was confusion “so profound that it took months to trust the feeling of joy again.” She then provided background on the picture she shared of the man who played the T’Challa to her Nakia, saying:

Following her first two turns as Maz Kanata in the Star Wars movies The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi, Nyong’o lent her talents to 2018’s Black Panther as Nakia, a Wakandan spy who shared a romantic past with T’Challa. With Boseman having debuted as the feline-themed superhero two years earlier in Captain America: Civil War, the 18th MCU movie put T’Challa front and center ahead of Avengers: Infinity War, and along with Boseman and Nyong’o sharing quite a bit of screen time in Black Panther, they also were around each other a lot during the promotional circuit. The way the former presented his “suave flare” while they were in South Korea is one of the many treasured memories the latter has of him.

This isn’t the first time Lupita Nyong’o has written a tribute for Chadwick Boseman, as she shared on the one-year anniversary of his death that his memory “remains this alive in me.” As for this year’s tribute, the actress also known for movies like Queen of Katwe and Us, concluded her post with these words:

After Boseman died, Marvel Studios decided not to recast T’Challa for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with the character instead dying offscreen of a terminal illness. Nyong’o reprised Nakia alongside familiar faces like Letita Wright, Danai Gurira and Winston Duke, with the sequel seeing Wright’s Shuri inheriting the Black Panther mantle during a conflict with Tenoch Huerta’s Namor. Although Nyong’o acknowledged in April 2021 that it would be “hard” to continue without Boseman, she said a few weeks ahead of Wakanda Forever’s release that she felt not recasting T’Challa was the right choice, and she had neither the “presence of mind,” nor the “objectivity to argue” with those who felt otherwise.

All of Chadwick Boseman and Lupita Nyong’o’s MCU appearances can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription, and if word comes in that the actress will play Nakia a third time, we’ll let you know. Until then, Nyong’o will next be seen in A Quiet Place: Day One, which is slated on the 2024 movies calendar for a March 8 release.

It’s hard to believe, but 2023 will mark three years since the tragic loss of Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman. The Marvel icon had privately battled colon cancer for over four years before succumbing to the illness at 43. While the man might be gone, his legacy is not because his memory is being kept alive by his friends and colleagues. Most recently, fellow MCU actor Michael B. Jordan shared a memory of a moment he shared with Boseman on the press tour for the first Black Panther that stuck with him, especially after his friend’s death. 

Michael B. Jordan recently appeared on the daytime talk show The View to promote the release and discuss taking over directorial duties for Creed III. Long-time co-host Sunny Hostin asked the actor if he had any memories of his friend Boseman that come up for him when he thinks about the time he shared with him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Fruitvale Station actor shared some emotional words of praise for Chadwick before sharing how the two performers connected while working together. Still, the moment didn’t hit Jordan until after Boseman’s death. He told the hosts:

It seems pretty evident that Michael B. Jordan is taking his friend’s legacy of work as motivation as he moves forward in his career. The Fahrenheit 451 star says Chadwick Boseman was dedicated to his craft until the “last moments of his life,” and that is what he has left behind for generations of moviegoers. He also shared how the late Black Panther star's work ethic has impacted how he approaches life and work. Jordan continued:

The Wire alum seemingly takes the lessons learned from losing his friend Chadwick Boseman to heart. Michael B. Jordan shows no signs of slowing down. The star returns as Adonis Creed in the soon-to-be-released third installment in the highly acclaimed Rocky spin-off series, an installment that sees Jordan behind the camera as director for the very first time. But this is only one of many high-profile jobs the star has lined up for himself. He has already confirmed a fourth Creed film, teased potential spin-offs to his boxing series, and signed on for the long-rumored Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six adaptation. 

You can see Micahel B. Jordan keep his friends memory alive by pouring himself into the work he loves once Creed III hits theaters on March 3. Until then, check out our 2023 new movie releases list to plan future cinema trips. 

Angela Bassett just made history for the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the 80th annual Golden Globes. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress scored a major win at the returning award show and, among many other people, had to pay respects to her departed co-star from the first Black Panther movie, Chadwick Boseman. 

It took Angela Bassett a short while to compose herself when she took the Golden Globes stage to claim her award of Best Supporting Actress for playing Ramonda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, possibly because this was an honor she didn't expect. Bassett makes history as the first Marvel actor to earn a major performing award for a role in a Marvel film.

Once the actress had a moment to gather her thoughts, she thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press for her second Golden Globe win of her career, as well as her professional team that helped her out. She also showed love to her husband, Courtney B. Vance, and the rest of her family. Bassett then segued into a special message for the Marvel team and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever crew:   

Angela Bassett pointed to this win as a nod to Chadwick Boseman's legacy. It's a legacy that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever honored by having the character of T'Challa pass away as well. Boseman died in 2020 at age of 43 from colon cancer after battling the illness in private since 2016. 

The award was a win for Angela Bassett and the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever crew, but the actress made sure to let the fans know they're appreciated as well. In the final bit of her speech, she shared thanks MCU lovers and all they've done to help make the Marvel movies a success: 

Angela Bassett's win is major news for Marvel in general, but it could lead to even bigger headlines for the studio in 2023. While Golden Globe wins aren't always indicative of how the Academy Awards will go, Bassett might be on stage yet again later this year for the Oscars. In either case, this should be seen as a big step up for Marvel movies and fans, who have long waited to see these movies get award show recognition since Phase 1. 

I can summarize the emotion and impact of Angela Bassett's speech, but only the actress herself can truly do it justice. Take a look at the full speech below, in which Bassett kicks things off by recalling the first Golden Globe win she ever won for What’s Love Got To Do With It:

Angela Bassett absolutely crushed it in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, so it's truly awesome to see her awarded properly for it. Hopefully the wins for the Marvel film keep on rolling, and this paves the way for future Marvel films to get some award show wins as well. 

The Golden Globes are rolling right along on NBC/streaming for anyone with a Peacock Premium subscription. Be sure to stick with CinemaBlend as all the big winners of the night are announced and the celebrities continue to deliver big moments. 

Warning: SPOILERS for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are ahead!

Following the ending of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s main story, the emotional post-credits scene revealed that a young boy we’d briefly seen earlier in the movie was Toussaint, the son of Nakia and the late T’Challa, with his Wakandan name also being T’Challa. Ryan Coogler previously informed CinemaBlend that Wakanda Forever was always going to feature the previous Black Panther’s son, but now the filmmaker has shared how this post-credits reveal was originally going to be integral to the main story before Chadwick Boseman’s death.

Prior to Chadwick Boseman passing away in August 2020 at the age of 43, the plan was for Black Panther 2 to be “a character study that delved deeply” into T’Challa’s “psyche and situation,” and it was indicated that our hero would learn about the existence of his son after being reconstituted by The Blip. Ryan Coogler confirmed this was indeed the case while speaking with The New York Times, saying the following about how Black Panther 2 had been conceived as a “father-son story”:

Remember that T’Challa was among the half of the all life in the universe snapped out of existence by Thanos at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, but five years later, Smart Hulk brought all those people back with Infinity Stones retrieved from The Time Heist in Avengers: Endgame. Meanwhile, Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia was among the half who survived The Snap and gave birth to her son shortly after T’Challa’s disappearance. So along with T’Challa learning that he has a son after suddenly being returned to life, now this kid is learning about his heroic lineage.

Ryan Coogler then shared that following T’Challa’s return and meeting his son, Black Panther 2 would have fast-forwarded three years, and the story would have seen the title superhero and his offspring going on a journey together that still would have involved Namor the Sub-Mariner, played by Tenoch Huerta, as the main antagonist, although his and Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s roles in the story would have been slight different compared to what we got in the final product. As Coogler explained:

After Chadwick Boseman died, Black Panther 2 was retooled to follow Letitia Wright’s Shuri struggling with her brother’s death and ultimately succeeding him as Black Panther. According to producer Nate Moore, Shuri was the only candidate considered to become the new Black Panther, although as revealed at the end of Wakanda Forever, following the death of Angela Bassett’s Ramonda, it’s Winston Duke’s M’Baku who will lead Wakanda now, as opposed to Shuri also sitting on the throne. Shuri is also now aware that she has a nephew, and while it’s unclear if Toussaint will ever appear in the MCU again, at least we know he’ll be carrying on his father’s legacy, though this doesn’t mean he’ll be putting on his own Black Panther suit years from now.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still playing in theaters and is expected to premiere to Disney+ subscribers sometime in early 2023. The next of the upcoming Marvel movies to look forward to is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in February, followed by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in May.

Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe greatly expanded its scope, thanks to both TV and movie projects. But throughout it all the most hotly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie was Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This is thanks to the massive popularity of the first movie, as well as the real-life emotions tied to late star Chadwick Boseman. And some Black Panther 2 concept art has revealed that Shuri’s costume could have been like if Boseman hadn’t surprisingly passed away.

Ryan Coogler and company had already created a script for Black Panther 2 when Chadwick Boseman died in the summer of 2020. The story was greatly changed as a result, with Wakanda Forever being a meditation on grief that showed Letitia Wright’s Shuri take on the mantle of the Panther. Some original concept art that made its way to Instagram revealed the original plan to change this character for the movie, check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? While Shuri was seemingly always destined to team-up with Riri Williams aka Ironheart in Black Panther 2, her gear would have been quite different. After all, there would have been no reason for her to become a Panther if Chadwick Boseman’s character T’Challa returned to lead the cast of the sequel. Let’s break down what we’re being shown here.

The above image comes to us from the Instagram of concept designer Phil Saunders. He’s worked on various major blockbusters for Marvel and beyond including Avengers: Endgame, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and The King’s Man. He used his talents to help develop the visual language for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and started doing that work long before shooting would begin. What’s more, Saunders was even working on the Ironheart armor and concepts like that ahead of Chadwick Boseman passing away from colon cancer.

While Ironheart looks fairly similar to her appearance in Black Panther 2, Shuri is rocking a much different look. It looks like she could have gotten her own Vibranium wings in the movie, while retaining her signature gauntlets as her primary weapon. But this never actually came to fruition, although there were major upgrades for other characters like Danai Gurira’s Okoye.

Rather than the wings shown above, Shuri debuted new tech with the Midnight Angel armor, which was eventually used by both Okoye and Michaela Coel’s Aneka. In addition to flight, they were also given superhuman strength and durability. And it should be fascinating to see how the Angels factor into future installments of the MCU. As for the Dora Milaje, they’ve got new leadership in the form of Florence Kasumba’s Ayo. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever continues to make money at the box office, and recently earned two Golden Globe nominations: Best Supporting Actress for Angela Bassett and Best Song for Rihanna’s “Raise Me Up”. The MCU will return to theaters with Ant-Man 3 on February 17th. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your trips to the theater in the New Year. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever allowed fans to celebrate and grieve Chadwick Boseman over two years after his untimely death. The release of the sequel unexpectedly coincided with a special time for those who loved Boseman as a performer and person. November 29 was the late actor’s 46th birthday, and fans, friends, and family took to the internet to celebrate the special day like they do every year. Sweet tributes poured in from Marvel stars Sebastian Stan, Michael B. Jordan, and many more on the late Black Panther star’s birthday.

This year, Boseman’s birthday coincided with the tradition of Giving Tuesday, which encourages people to give back to their community by whatever means they can. Many nonprofit organizations benefit from the charitable day as they receive funds to help with their missions. One such organization was the Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts, which was founded by his family, including his widow Taylor Ledward Boseman. In following the nonprofit’s mission to nurture and cultivate young Black talent, the organization’s Twitter account posted a video of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Sebastian Stan honoring the late actor’s memory on his birthday and persuading others to donate to the foundation. Check out Stan’s sweet message below.

Stan’s loving tribute spoke to the 42 star’s impact on the world and his co-stars. He sparked many of his MCU family to shine a light on the nonprofit art foundation. He was followed by Guardians of the Galaxy’s Chris Pratt, who took to his Instagram account in support of the organization. Like the Pam and Tommy star, Pratt spoke to Boseman’s character while pushing others to donate. Read the Jurassic World Dominion star’s moving words to the late MCU star below.

Highlighting the arts foundation was a nice way to acknowledge Boseman’s legacy and champion giving at the same time. Following Pratt’s kind post, more Marvel stars chose to honor the late Oscar nominee by spotlighting the fun times. Wakanda Forever’s Lupita Nyong’o took to her Instagram to share a clip from their 2018 Wired Autocomplete interview. She took the time to mention the arts charity in the process. Watch the sweet moment between the co-stars in her post below.

The Oscar winner wanted to highlight her late co-star’s legacy while sharing a nice moment with her followers. But Nyong’o wasn’t to be outdone with a fun throwback as co-star Michael B. Jordan hopped on his Twitter account to share a sweet and hilarious duet he shared with his close friend and co-star during the first Black Panther press tour. See why Jordan keeps “moments like these close” in the jovial clip below.

You could feel the joy in the video as the Black Panther cast and director Ryan Coogler sang the K-CI and JoJo classic “All My Life.” Of course, everyone did their best. After watching the unexpected karaoke moment, Boseman’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom co-star Viola Davis took to her Twitter account to remember the Get on Up star on his 46th birthday. Look at the short and sweet message in her tribute post below.

Hearing the late Hollywood A-lister’s powerful words now rings differently in the years since his passing. For that reason, the words seemed to touch Davis, who loved their experience in the James Brown biopic. Chadwick Boseman’s impact and legacy not only left an impression of the Oscar winner but his fellow MCU star Dave Bautista. The Guardians of the Galaxy star jumped on his Twitter account to praise the Avengers: Infinity War star on his birthday along with a picture of the two stars together. Check out the MCU star’s inspiring post below.

Bautista was just one of many stars who enjoyed their time with Boseman. His interaction with the late star was just one of the multiple recounts to come out since Boseman’s death. Despite no longer being a physical presence, the Oscar nominee continued to be inspirational to his fellow MCU stars. Marvel already paid tribute to the late MCU star through the opening crawl for Wakanda Forever.

You can see how Chadwick Boseman’s legacy lives on by watching Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at your local movie theater. Before watching the Black Panther sequel, get a Disney+ subscription to watch Boseman’s T’Challa defend Wakanda from the opposition in the first film.

Major spoilers alert for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Throughout Phase Four of the MCU, one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies has been Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The critically acclaimed blockbuster has been making a ton of money at the box office, and offers an emotional meditation on grief. We also watched as Letitia Wright’s Shuri replicated the heart-shaped herb and became the new Panther. But did the sequel ever consider having another character take on the mantle? Here’s what producer Nate Moore says.

One of the biggest questions surrounding Black Panther 2 ahead of its release is who would be the next character to become the titular superhero. As we got closer it seemed obvious that Shuri was the one behind the mask, as she was the protagonist of Wakanda Forever. Producer Nate Moore was asked by one Yahoo! journalist if other names were floated around, to which he responded with:

Several points were made. After all, Shuri has become the Black Panther in Marvel’s comics before, so there was precedent for the story to focus on Letitia Wright’s Princess of Wakanda. What’s more, there was a parallel journey happening with the grief over T’Challa and her eventual acceptance of the mantle. Although it doesn’t look like she’s actually going to rule the country as Queen.

Nate Moore’s comments to Yahoo! offer a peel behind the curtain of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Director/writer Ryan Coogler had to craft a new story after the death of Chadwick Boseman, which he described as the most difficult task of his professional life. And while the story of the sequel no doubt changed various times throughout its development, it looks like Shuri was the clear choice for T’Challa’s successor. And she made a pretty badass Black Panther in the movie’s final battle sequences.

As Nate Moore described, the internet had a few alternatives in mind as the next Black Panther besides Princess Shuri. Other choices included Lupita Nyong’o Nakia, Danai Gurira’s Okoye, and Winston Duke’s M’Baku. The latter character did end up getting a new leadership role in Wakanda, as we last saw him volunteering to battle for the title of King. It looks like he’ll be ruling Wakanda, while Shuri operates as the nation’s protector.

It should be fascinating to see what comes next for the characters of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, given its various plot twists. Fans are eager to learn more about the Midnight Angels made up of Okoye and Aneka. Additionally, there was the mid-credits scene and the reveal that T’Challa and Nakia had a son. Is he meant to one day sit on the throne? Only time will tell, but I can’t imagine that M’Baku would be thrilled about that turn of events.

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania on February 27th, 2023. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. Just don’t expect to see any Marvel or DC movies until the new year.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe recently expanded with the release of Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The acclaimed blockbuster was one of the host hotly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies ahead of its release, and has been making a ton of money at the box office over the last few weeks. The sequel is a meditation on grief, with a touching real-world connection due to the passing of Chadwick Boseman. And Marvel’s Letitia Wright has opened up about the emotional exchange she had with a Black Panther co-star after learning of Boseman’s death.

Chadwick Boseman passed away in the summer of 2020, after a private battle with colon cancer. This shocked the fans and his colleagues alike, the latter of which have been open about the grieving process that accompanied the process of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Letitia Wright plays Shuri in the franchise, and recently opened up to The Guardian about exactly how she initially learned of Boseman’s death. In her words,

This feeling of confusion can no doubt be echoed by countless colleagues and fans of Chadwick Boseman, who were unaware of his health issues. While Letitia Wright had a close relationship to her on-screen brother, she was blindsided when folks started sending their condolences related to his death. It’s a sobering account of that very real feeling when tragedy strikes, and one can’t wrap their head around it.

Later in that same interview Letitia Wright revealed one Black Panther actor who was there for her in her pain and confusion. Namely Daniel Kaluuya, who was unfortunately absent throughout the movie’s sequel. As she shared: 

What an emotional story. Letitia Wright’s honest recollection of the time following Chadwick Boseman’s death shows just how close the cast and crew of Black Panther truly got while bringing Wakanda to life. And these emotions seemingly translated into the powerhouse performances given by Wright and Angela Bassett in the acclaimed sequel. 

Ahead of Black Panther 2’s release, Ryan Coogler and the cast had been open about how emotional it was to bring the Marvel sequel to life. Chadwick Boseman’s absence was described as a gaping hole, and it was touching to see how he was honored throughout Wakanda Forever’s runtime, including the movie’s ending, as well as the emotional mid-credits scene. Letitia Wright further explained how close the cast/crew of her Marvel franchise are, saying:

Grief is a tricky beast, and it’s super brave and generous for Letitia Wright to offer such an intimate peek into the way she’s been mourning Chadwick Boseman. And it sounds like in addition to finding a way to move on professionally and personally, the loss has changed the way she looks at her relationships to other co-stars like Okoye actress Dani Gurira. 

The contents of Black Panther 2 inspired plenty of new questions, including who is ruling Wakanda. And while it remains to be seen how plot likes like Namor and Prince T’Challa play out, that corner of the MCU has gotten even more intriguing. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in theaters now, and making a ton of money at the box office. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience– just don’t expect any more Marvel movies until Phase Five. 

Black Panther was one of the most successful movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Domestically, the movie outperformed even Avengers: Infinity War at the box office, so it was essentially a forgone conclusion that we would get a Black Panther 2. At the D23 Expo in 2019, Marvel Studios confirmed the Black Panther sequel was coming, but then everything changed following the death of Chadwick Boseman.

With the loss of the first Black Panther movie's star, nobody knew quite what to expect from the sequel. Would we see T’Challa recast? If so, who could possibly take the role? And that assumed, of course, that the movie wasn’t cancelled entirely. Here’s a look at the complete story of during the lead up to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and what finally happened to T’Challa and Boseman on screen. 

At First, It Wasn’t Clear We Would Even Get a Black Panther 2 Without Chadwick Boseman 

Work on the sequel was in its very early stages when Chadwick Boseman passed away, so it was very possible that the response to Boseman’s death would be that the movie would be scrapped entirely. Just a few weeks after the tragedy, co-star Letitia Wright was asked about making Black Panther 2 without the star, and she admitted she had a hard time imagining the movie even happening, saying:

This was a sentiment held by a lot of people. Most of the comments from producers and the powers-that-be at Marvel early on very much took a 'wait and see' approach. There was plenty of time, as Black Panther 2 was still planned to be two years away.

One Decision About Black Panther 2 Was Made Early On 

However, even before there was confirmation that Black Panther 2 was moving forward, there was confirmation of one thing concerning the role of T’Challa: Marvel Studios would not use CGI to recreate Chadwick Boseman's likeness.

We’ve seen lots of favorite movie characters return to popular franchises, and appear at the correct age, thanks to the use of CGI technology, either by de-aging an actor or digitally recreating a face over another actor. While the tech certainly isn’t perfect, it’s improved a lot over the years, so the idea that a CGI T’Challa could appear, even in a limited capacity, had to  be entertained as a possibility. However, Black Panther producer Victoria Alonso made it clear in November 2020 that would not be happening:

It’s clear from this comment that a lot of decisions still haven’t been made. The people in charge at Marvel know they want to honor Chadwick Boseman the right way, and while they’re not entirely sure what that is, they do know what it is not. At this point, recasting the role is technically still on the table, but CGI is not.  

Kevin Feige Responds To The Idea Of Recasting Chadwick Boseman 

In the MCU, the buck stops with producer Kevin Feige, so when he spoke about the future of Black Panther 2 in early 2021, people listened. Feige reiterated that CGI would not be used, but also took things a step further by confirming that Black Panther 2 was moving forward, with writer/director Ryan Coogler working on a story that would not include T’Challa as a character because he would not be recast. Feige explained:

So from here we had a path forward. Feige even hinted at the general idea of what the eventually-titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would be about, as it was apparently always going to focus on Wakanda as a place much more than T’Challa as a character. Now this would be done out of necessity.

Not Everybody Was Against Recasting T’Challa 

While it seemed that the decision had been made and Black Panther 2 had a plan to go forward, it has to be said that not everybody was on board with this plan. A fan petition was started asking Marvel to recast T’Challa. Even Boseman’s own family, such as his brother Derrick, believed that recasting the role was the right call. He went so far as to say that he believed Chadwick Boseman would be in favor of recasting himself.    

The general consensus among the people with this view was that the role of Black Panther is important and ultimately bigger than Chadwick Boseman. The feeling was that Black Panther needed to exist in the MCU because of what the character meant to people; who played him was far less important.

Kevin Feige Explains Why Recasting Black Panther Was Not Considered 

So Black Panther 2 went into pre-production and was eventually titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. We understood what the plan was; that something would happen to T’Challa to take him out of the story and things would go forward from there. What we didn’t know yet was why this decision was ultimately made. Kevin Feige would explain things in September 2022 that because the world was clearly hit hard by the death of Chadwick Boseman, it only made sense for the movie to do the same. Feige said:

So perhaps if Black Panther 2 had been delayed and come out years later, it would have made more sense to recast T’Challa, but since the man was still being mourned, it felt like the movie needed to deal with the same things that the fans were going through. 

Black Panther Co-Star Winston Duke Agrees With The Decision To Not Recast T’Challa 

For the most part, everybody involved in the production of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever seems to feel the same way as Kevin Feige. Winston Duke, who plays M’Baku in the franchise, recently said that Chadwick Boseman stood for many of the same things as the Black Panther, so it was just too hard to see anybody else play the role. 

It all certainly makes sense from that perspective. If Chadwick Boseman was the right man to play Black Panther because the reality mirrored the fantasy, it only fitting for the sequel to do the same thing, including with his loss. 

How Chadwick Boseman, And T’Challa, Appear In Wakanda Forever 

Leading into the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the big question wasn’t what would happen to Black Panther as a mantle, the trailers showed us there would be a new person taking on the identity . The question was how would the movie handle the fact that the previous Black Panther was gone.

Wakanda Forever opens with a sequence that shows Letitia Wright’s Shuri in her lab, as she’s trying to synthesize the heart-shaped herb that was destroyed in the previous film. T’Challa isn’t mentioned by name, but it’s clear that this is an attempt to save somebody’s life. In the end, she’s unable to even try to save him, as T’Challa has died from an unnamed disease. The exact cause of his death is never specified.

From there, the movie cuts to the traditional Marvel Studios logo. Traditionally this sequence is full of scenes showing all the various characters of the MCU, but in this one, we only ever see Chadwick Boseman either as T’Challa or his actual self. The graphic package has no music at all, and it’s done in a shade of royal purple. This is followed by a funeral procession for T’Challa before the movie jumps forward a year.

We don’t see Chadwick Boseman in the movie proper until the final scene. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a story about dealing with grief, and Shuri is never able to grieve for her lost brother. In the end, she finally burns her mourning clothes, and while she sits quietly, we see what she is thinking about and images of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa play until Shuri finally cries and the movie comes to an end.

The question of how Marvel would handle the death of Chadwick Boseman has lasted for more than two years since we lost him. Going forward, there will likely be a debate as to whether or not all the decisions that were made were the right ones. There will never be a truly definitive answer, but Marvel Studios clearly set out to honor Chadwick Boseman, and in the end, they succeeded with that. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a wildly successful franchise, but a few properties stand out as fan favorites. Black Panther is definitely in that category, with its sequel Wakanda Forever expected to make a ton of money at the box office on its opening weekend. Ryan Coogler was once again behind the camera for the movie, which has been one of the most hotly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies throughout Phase Four. And Coogler recently opened up about why he has trouble having the “did they consider recasting Chadwick Boseman” with anyone not involved in the Black Panther franchise. And smart money says he’s been asked plenty of times.

Creed filmmaker Ryan Coogler helped to create a truly immersive corner of the MCU with the Black Panther franchise, which has finally returned to theaters– to the joy of fans. The first movie was a global sensation, and generations of fans were shocked when learning about the passing of lead actor Chadwick Boseman. While some fans wanted to see T’Challa stay in the shared universe via recasting, that seemingly wasn’t entertained by the cast/crew. Coogler spoke to Uproxx about the pain of losing the late actor, and why didn’t care to debate whether another actor should take on the mantle from Boseman. As he put it,

It certainly sounds like the cast and crew developed a strong bond while working on the original Black Panther movie. Chadwick Boseman was obviously a big part of this, as he was leading the cast and helping to set the tone of the set. And it’s due to this real-life connection that bringing in another reactor for T’Challa was out of the question for Wakanda Forever. 

Black Panther 2 honors Chadwick Boseman in a variety of ways throughout its 161-minute runtime, including with Marvel Studios’ opening crawl. It’s also powerful because the characters are mourning T’Challa while the actors/fans are mourning the loss of Boseman. And overall it creates a fascinating meditation on grief.

Later in that same interview, Ryan Coogler further explained why he didn’t care to discuss recasting T’Challa with fans or those who weren’t involved in the Black Panther franchise. While some wanted to see the character live in the shared universe, that came with a unique set of emotions. As Coogler further shared:

Clearly the Black Panther franchise means a great deal to Ryan Coogler personally, as well as professionally. He previously described continuing the story after Chadwick Boseman’s death as the most difficult task of his career. The acclaimed filmmaker even considered quitting directing altogether, as the loss was that severe. But given the acclaimed response to Wakanda Forever, smart money says fans will be glad he didn’t.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in theaters now, marking the final movie installment in Phase Four of the MCU. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience, just don’t expect to see another Marvel title. Instead the franchise continues to expand thanks to shows and specials on Disney+.