"There will be only one T'Challa," Marvel studio bosses said as they officially announced that the pioneering role of the late Chadwick Boseman in 'Black Panther' will not be recast in the forthcoming sequel. The studio announced the impressive lineup of films set to roll out in the new stage of the Marvel Cinematic Universe along with the inclusion of digital series through their social media handles. After a secret four-year battle with colon cancer, Boseman passed away in August. Since his diagnosis and treatment of cancer was never made public, there were rumours that his passing would put the superhero film's future in doubt. "His portrayal of T'Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends any iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel's past — and it's for that reason that we will not recast the character," Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, said in a statement.  

"But a planned sequel to the 2018 smash hit—which saw Boseman play the first black superhero to get his own standalone film in the franchise—will still go ahead with all the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film." "We want to continue exploring the world of Wakanda to honour the legacy that Chad helped us build through his portrayal of the king of Wakanda. Critics and audiences loved the original 'Black Panther,' set in the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda, becoming the first comic book film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Worldwide, it also grossed over $1 billion. In July 2022, the sequel is due in theatres. In a packed presentation covering more than 20 upcoming Marvel films and series, Feige announced that Jon Watts, who helped reinvigorate the 'Spider-Man' films, will direct a new Fantastic Four' movie. With its recent takeover of the rival Fox film studio, which had produced a 2015 flop based on the comic books, Disney acquired the film rights to the 'Fantastic Four characters.