Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Chadwick Boseman won’t be brought back via CGI for Black Panther 2, Marvel confirms

‘We have to think about how we are going to honour the franchise,’ said Marvel’s executive vice president

Louis Chilton
Monday 16 November 2020 10:58 GMT
Comments
Black Panther - trailer

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Marvel Studios has confirmed there are no plans to use a digital body double for the late Chadwick Boseman in the planned Black Panther sequel.

Boseman died of colon cancer in August at the age of 43. 

Disney, the company that owns Marvel Studios, has previously used CGI effects to simulate a performance by the late Peter Cushing  in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and used CGI to enhance existing footage of the late Carrie Fisher in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker.

Victoria Alonso, the executive vice president of Marvel Studios, addressed speculation that CGI could be used to replicate Bosesman’s performance in the planned sequel to the 2018 hit Black Panther.

Speaking to Clarin, Alonso said: “No. There’s only one Chadwick, and he’s not with us.

“Our king, unfortunately, has died in real life, not just in fiction, and we are taking a little time to see how we return to history and what we do to honour this chapter of what has happened to us that was so unexpected, so painful, so terrible, really.”

While it has been suggested by some fans that Shuri, the Black Panther character played by Letitia Wright, could step in to take the place the Wakandan hero T’Challa, Alonso stated that the studio has not yet decided how to approach a sequel.

“Chadwick was not only a wonder,” she said, “but it also seems to me that as a character what he did elevated us as a company, and has left his moment in history. 

“I know that sometimes two months go by or three months go by in production and one says, already, it was a long time. But it is not a long time, we have to think carefully about what we are going to do, and how, and think about how we are going to honour the franchise.”

Boseman’s final acting role, in the film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, is set to premiere on Netflix on 18 December.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in