Angela Bassett shares her thoughts on the idea of recreating the late Chadwick Boseman with CGI in Black Panther 2. Bassett and Boseman played mother and son in 2018's Black Panther, the first MCU movie centered on a Black hero. Boseman played the titular hero, T'Challa, as he ascends to the throne of Wakanda following the death of his father. Black Panther was extremely well-received upon its release, breaking box office records and becoming the first Marvel film to win Oscars. A sequel seemed inevitable, and Black Panther 2 has been in the works for years now.

Tragically, Boseman passed away last August after a lengthy cancer battle, leaving fans and loved ones stunned. As the actor kept his health issues private, no one was prepared to lose him so suddenly, and Marvel has been forced to adjust their plans for Black Panther 2. Though it isn't yet clear as to how the studio will handle Boseman's passing, it has been confirmed that the role of T'Challa won't be recast, nor will Boseman be recreated with CGI. As of right now, Black Panther 2 is slated for a July 2022 release.

Related: Why Black Panther's Sequel Should Be Wakanda Versus The Avengers

Bassett, who plays former Wakandan queen Ramonda in the MCU, spoke to Entertainment Tonight recently about her Fox series 9-1-1. At one point, Bassett was asked to share her thoughts on the decision to neither recast nor recreate Boseman for Black Panther 2. The actress first admitted the thought hadn't crossed her mind, then seemed to indicate there could be an in-universe explanation for a CGI recreation. Bassett said:

That's interesting. Well I had not thought about that idea, but of course it is Wakanda and they are, in terms of technology, they are so far ahead of the rest of the world that they would be able to bring some of that.

Chadwick Boseman King

Elsewhere in the interview, Bassett called Boseman "completely irreplaceable," echoing a sentiment many have expressed in the months since his death. Boseman's loss is still felt keenly, and it's hard to imagine a Black Panther 2 that doesn't include him. However, to recreate him with CGI might feel cheap, and recasting him would feel like an insult to his memory. Marvel is making the smart decision in picking neither of those options, though this still leaves the question of what will happen in Black Panther 2 without T'Challa around.

A popular fan theory is that T'Challa's genius sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) will be tapped to take on the mantle of Wakanda's hero. Marvel has not said one way or another if that is the route they plan to take, but it's expected that much of Black Panther's original cast will return for the sequel. Though it will be incredibly sad to not have Boseman present, Black Panther 2 presents a chance to honor his memory and keep the legacy of T'Challa alive. It might not be through CGI or recasting, but it will hopefully be exactly what fans need to help process their emotions.

More: All Chadwick Boseman Movies, Ranked

Source: Entertainment Tonight

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