Chadwick Boseman: ABC to air tribute and Black Panther special tonight

Actor died aged 43 from cancer, prompting an outpouring of tributes from co-stars, film fans and politicians

A special, advert-free airing of Black Panther will air on ABC tonight (Sunday 30 August), as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.

Walt Disney and Marvel Studios have organised the screening, which will be followed by a reflection on Boseman’s life and work.

ABC News reports the special will “celebrate Boseman’s storied life, legacy and career, and the cultural imprint he made on- and off-screen”.

It will feature tributes that have poured in from celebrities, political figures and fans across the world, ”special words from those who starred alongside him and knew Boseman best, and shine a light on the medical condition he privately battled”.

Boseman died aged 43 from colon cancer, on Friday 28 August. He was diagnosed in 2016 but chose to keep his illness and treatment private.

(Reuters (Reuters)

His performance as King T’Challa in Black Panther, alongside actors including Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Letita Wright, Daniel Kaluuya and Andy Serkis, received critical acclaim.

The 2018 superhero movie, which made history for its focus on black characters, also broke a number of film industry records and received several Oscar nominations.

Black Panther will air from 8pm until 10.30pm, and be followed by Chadwick Boseman – A Tribute for a King.

Read the tributes to Boseman from his Marvel co-stars here.