Marvel Studios officially announced the new title for Black Panther II in its celebrations trailer today. The sequel will now officially be called Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It remains set for a July 2022 release.
While it’s not the catchiest of subtitles, it’s a wise choice seeing the recognition and fame garnered by the Wakanda Forever catchphrase. With this title, Marvel has ensured that even the most casual fans will remember the title with ease. And even as the film remains on track for a release next year, there’s no clarity on what its storyline will entail in lieu of the tragic passing of lead actor Chadwick Boseman due to colon cancer.
Another ongoing debate is the recasting of Boseman and Marvel has a rather tricky act to pull off its sleeve. If they recast, they let the legacy of the character continue but risk alienating some fans. On the contrary, if they don’t recast, they let a potentially powerful black superhero languish. It’s a tough decision and one that will require a lot of careful deliberation to pull through.