There are some bigtime implications of Killing Off T'Challa. Most noteably in regards to T'Challa's inspirational and aspirational influence to young Black boys.
That they could finally see themselves as the inspiring hero. To just kill that character off..... there honestly aren't words.
So many people aren't seeing the big picture, it's unfortunate.
That's tough to consider, but I think it has to be noted that black children and people in general were probably able to see themselves in T'Challa in some ways. The film celebrated cultural impact in a way no superhero film had before. But the first film clearly wasn't only aimed at black boys. It's an unfortunate situation all the way around.
I think a lot of the calling to kill off T'Challa or threats to boycott Marvel/Disney if they recast the part are people's raw emotions giving them kneejerk reactions.
And it would be people's raw emotions that theoretically causes them to potentially reject whoever is cast in the role next, and endlessly compare them to Boseman, etc.
I think in time cooler heads will prevail and people will see that the character and what it represents to people is bigger than any one actor and killing off the character would be a disservice both to that and even to Chadwick.
I don't think anyone who thinks about it for even a brief period of time doesn't recognize this. It's not that simple...because people were clearly emotionally tied to him in the role.
I think that this Shuri they made wouldn't lead a film or a major character. This is not a comment on Letitia Wright's acting, but Shuri was presented not only as a science genius and gear supplier to T'Challa, but also as a comic relief. I think if they intended she to lead the Black Panther persona some time in the future like Sam Wilson took the Captain America role, Shuri would have a little bit different personality since the beginning.
Sam Wilson was in like three movies in barely a supporting role before becoming Captain America. There wasn't a lot of exploration of the concept of him stepping into the role at all.
I don't see why it's an issue that she has a different personality. The whole point is that she'd be someone else entirely as Black Panther. That's the story potential.
I think Marvel and Disney are right just paying tribute to Boseman and dealing with their grief, as opposed to rushing to make Black Panther 2.
They'll eventually find a path forward, but the best thing to do is to not make any major decisions in the midst of a worldwide mourning period in spite of those online who may want them to come up with answers right away.
Well, obviously. But putting this out through the media is also PR, which is why it's in Hollywood Reporter. And they're saying all the right things, but you can bet that they're going to be scrambling to figure it out. It will have to be delayed significantly. I don't know what you do if you don't acknowledge it that ultimately doesn't feel cheap or jarring if the movie comes out anytime soon. Disney being Disney, they'll probably go with the "time heals all wounds" approach, delay it and recast. But they have a chance to be bold and make some major statement, even in relation to ongoing sociocultural struggles.
I agree, it changes the BP lore, Shuri needs growth and development.
So did Klaw dying. This isn't the comics.
Any story where she became Black Panther would involve growth and development.
Yeah, and that’s why it could be compelling. The title gets thrust on someone who is doubted by everyone, even her family and herself as to if she’s ready. If she’s ready to fill the massive void her brother left.
Exactly. Let's face it, it may be pandering on the highest level, and it might be the highest grossing film they'd ever make.
Sure, if we’re talking four movies down the line with Shuri as Panther in the MCU, I could see her being a little more quippy than T’Challa would be in the same circumstances, but it’s possible.
Technically, we ARE four movies down the line from when Black Panther was introduced.
Make a huge part of the story and marketing whether this character is capable of stepping up and living up, and let her earn over the course of the movie that climax that makes people go “THAT’S a f**king Black Panther”
Exactly.
Here's the thing about T'Challa dying in the story - it draws too much attention to what happened in real life. If you construct your main character around what happened to the actor the film then effectively becomes a running meta commentary about real life events. That to me is not the right way to approach things because the entire time the film is going to be drawing attention to Boseman's death. When actors die prior to their films being completed the films usually go out of their way to not draw attention to it.
Yes, but I don't think there will be any way to avoid it. Even if you want the film to be pure escapism, recasting the character will have the fact that Boseman is no longer there staring you right in the face. It's pretty much all the media will be talking about, whether it's a new actor designed to honor Boseman's tradition in the role and cultural and social outreach work, or an existing cast member, or a new character entirely.
If the focus point in a sequel is T'Challa's off screen death then you're putting real life events right into the audiences faces, and by doing this you're essentially keeping the wounds fresh and open. That's not even taking into account whether Shuri can be turned from quirky sidekick to lead character or whether audience even want to see that in the first place.
Maybe. It doesn't have to be Shuri. It could be a whole Battle for the Mantle thing with various characters.[/QUOTE]
