‘What If…?’: Will Chadwick Boseman Voice Black Panther in the Marvel Series?
On August 28, 2020, the world woke up to the news of the passing of Marvel actor Chadwick Boseman. At the time of his death, Boseman was only 43 years old, and it seemed as though his career was hitting its all-time high. The star died after a long battle with cancer, with some projects still in the works. Since his passing, fans have wondered what would happen to some of his projects with Marvel, saying they won’t recast Boseman’s role in Black Panther. But will Boseman voice Black Panther in the upcoming Marvel series What If…? Find out.
Chadwick Boseman broke history with his appearance on ‘Black Panther’
Black Panther premiered in 2018, telling the story of a hidden city called Wakanda. Wakanda was described as a utopia of sorts where technology was more advanced than in any other country, and only its occupants knew about it.
When Black Panther was released, it was an instant hit, with critics lauding the cast for its performers. The movie also became the first Marvel hit to have an all-Black main cast under the direction of a Black director. The film essentially placed Boseman at the center of entertainment as people couldn’t get over his portrayal of the Wakandan king.
Marvel is expanding with yet another series to its long list of shows, titled What If…? The series follows the events after Loki’s first season finale. What If…? follows the creation of the multiverse and explores the different timelines in which significant moments from the MCU occur differently.
The show stars Jeffrey Wright as The Watcher and has different characters in the MCU appearing in guest roles. One of the characters set to appear is Black Panther in a recurring role. According to Screen Rant, Boseman was excited to play various versions of his Marvel character even though he didn’t get to see the final product. The publication reports that the actor appeared in four episodes, which gives fans a bittersweet chance to say goodbye.
Boseman’s death was a shocker
In August 2020, Boseman’s Twitter account posted the grimmest news of an actor’s career cut short. The post informed Boseman’s fans of his passing, saying, “it is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman. Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last four years as it progressed to stage IV.”
The caption ended the sad news saying, “He died in his home with his wife and family by his side.” In May 2020, two months before his passing, pictures of a frail-looking Boseman made rounds on the internet leading to concerns about his changing appearances and his health.
Boseman’s passing sparked a conversation about body image issues, with many calling out some tabloids that had commented negatively about Boseman’s weight loss in the months following up to his death. Throughout his treatment, the star never commented or made his diagnosis public, and the news of his death shocked everyone.
Immediately fans of the star and other celebrities took to social media to express their deepest condolences. Others wished the actor’s family healing and peace at their difficult time. Marvel Studios posted Boseman’s picture saying, “our hearts are broken, and our thoughts are with Chadwick Boseman’s family. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest in peace.”
Boseman’s legacy extends outside the Marvel universe
Boseman was already a megastar even before he played his life-changing role in Black Panther. The actor’s career began with his appearance in All My Children. Although he was fired for rightfully raising concern about the script, he got more work in guest roles in shows like CSI: NY and ER.
His breakthrough came in 2013’s 42 playing Jackie Robins. He followed his performance up with roles in high-flying movies like Get On Up, Da 5 Bloods, and Gods of Egypt before landing the part of T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War, a role he held until his death.
