Release date for Black Panther sequel pushed back

If you’re planning on watching the Black Panther sequel once it’s released in the cinemas next year, you’ll have to wait a bit longer because there has been a change of plans.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney, on Monday, pushed back the release dates for Marvel movies that are/were slated to hit the cinemas next year. The announcement of the new dates came prior to the world premiere of Marvel’s Eternals – which is set to be released on November 5th.

And per the reshuffling, the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has been pushed to November 11, 2022. The sequel was initially set to open in theatres on July 8, 2022.

The other Marvel movies to have their release dates changed include Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (from March 25, 2022, to May 6, 2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (from May 6, 2022, to July 8, 2022), The Marvels (from November 11, 2022, to February 17, 2023). Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has also been pushed to July 28, 2023.

Studio insiders who spoke to the news outlet said the reshuffling mainly came as a result of several production delays and also deciding on the best release dates for movies as the industry revives from the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Disney also earlier announced Chadwick Boseman won’t be recast in the highly anticipated Black Panther sequel. Boseman, who played King T’Challa/Black Panther in the 2018 movie, passed away in August last year.

Disney explained they would rather “explore the world of Wakanda & the rich characters introduced in the first film” instead of recasting the beloved actor. The president of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, also reiterated that in an interview with Deadline in January. He also elaborated on the sequel’s plot and what fans should expect.

“So much of the comics and that first movie is the world of Wakanda,” Feige said. “Wakanda is a place to further explore with characters and different subcultures. This was always and initially the primary focus of the next story.”

Responding to another rumor of Boseman’s character being possibly cast in Computer Graphics (CG), Feige said: “We’re not going to have a CG Chadwick and we’re not recasting T’Challa. Ryan Coogler is working very hard right now on the script with all the respect and love and genius that he has, which gives us great solace, so it was always about furthering the mythology and the inspiration of Wakanda.”

Black Panther became an instant box office success when it was released, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide and breaking several records along the way. And though Boseman may be gone, Feige said the sequel will honor him and what he stood for.

“There’s also the task of honoring and respecting the ongoing learnings and teachings from Chad as well,” he said.