MCU star addresses those 'recast' rumors: 'I can't say anything'

Rumor has it that one Marvel hero could step aside in the future as the mantle is passed to another. Now the star behind that role addresses the rumors.
In this photo illustration a American film production label...
In this photo illustration a American film production label... | SOPA Images/GettyImages

As Avengers: Doomsday creeps forward, Marvel fans are beginning to think about what the Marvel Cinematic Universe might look like after the Multiverse Saga concludes. It's been an ongoing conversation among the fandom (and very likely at Marvel Studios too) as there are so just so many more factors to take into account this time around. The end of the Infinity Saga was game-changing for sure, but there's an element about the Multiverse Saga's impending end that feels like it will be that much more final for the franchise.

The pivot to the X-Men isn't just likely at this point, it's inevitable, as we're all beginning to wonder if the upcoming "Mutants Era" will mark the end of the Avengers movies. We'll have to wait and see, but a number of major MCU players from the previous eras are still expected to be involved after the Multiverse Saga concludes, with the likes of Thor, Doctor Strange, and the Scarlet Witch all rumored to have some kind of roles in the future of the franchise.

There is also one ongoing subfranchise within the MCU that is expected to continue simply due to the fact that another film is currently in development. And, if the rumors are true, the titular role could be taken over by another character. Now, the star has addressed those rumors.

Letitia Wright breaks silence on the "two Black Panthers" rumor

Black Panther star Letitia Wright is currently filming Avengers: Doomsday but she made some time in her busy schedule for an interview with Flip Your Wig (which can be viewed here). During that interview, the topic of a recent rumor came up as Wright was asked about the possibility of two Black Panthers appearing in the film - one being Wright's Shuri and the other being Toussaint/T'Challa II, the son of original Black Panther T'Challa (played by Divine Love Konadu-Sun).

Wright was quick to praise Divine but she wasn't giving any secrets away, responding:

"I can’t say anything. I’ve sworn to secrecy."

While the rumor of two Black Panthers appearing in Avengers: Doomsday is a relatively new one, Toussaint is involved in a more long-standing rumor about the fate of the Black Panther mantle. See, the post-credits scene of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever revealed that T'Challa and Nakia had a son who was never taken to Wakanda. That would make him the official heir to the throne and the Black Panther mantle - both roles which are currently held by Shuri.

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
A scene from Marvel Studios' Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

With Black Panther 3 officially in the works from Ryan Coogler (and Denzel Washington set to star in an undisclosed role), the story of the Black Panther mantle and the legacy of Wakanda will continue beyond the Multiverse Saga. With that in mind, fans are already theorizing that the third film will see Toussaint officially take over the mantle of the Black Panther from his aunt Shuri, carrying on his father's legacy as the hero. He would essentially replace Shuri in the role, allowing the character to return to the original path that was set out for her before she took on the mantle.

If Toussaint were to appear alongside Shuri in Avengers: Doomsday, it could open the door for that story or set it in motion sooner. But the truth is that we're just happy to see the story of both Shuri and T'Challa II - as well as the legacy of Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa - carry on well beyond the Multiverse Saga.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in movie theaters on December 18, 2026.