It seems that, more than five years removed from the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman, Marvel Studios is finally getting ready to move forward on the next chapter of Black Panther. While publicly, Marvel has maintained that they are honoring the memory of Chadwick Boseman by not recasting T’Challa in Wakanda Forever, there are several signs that, behind the scenes, Marvel is getting ready to introduce the next iteration of the Black Panther. And that could be sooner rather than later. For fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the rumors that Avengers: Secret Wars is set to reboot the MCU have everyone wondering what that could mean for the kingdom of Wakanda. A multiverse version of T’Challa, or perhaps an older iteration of his son, is now possible. And one name is being thrown about as the next iteration of the Black Panther: Damson Idris.
Damson Idris rumors grow as Marvel inches
While Damson Idris hasn’t outright confirmed that he is to play the next iteration of the Black Panther, he hasn’t really denied it either. In an interview given in 2025, he danced around the rumors of him being in talks to play the role before finally admitting that he would do it if the opportunity ever came his way.
Things really took off later that year when Idris was spotted at the ‘Vogue World: Hollywood’ event, which honored legendary costume designer Ruth E. Carter. Walking the red carpet with Angela Bassett, the situation was somewhat symbolic, even though there was no official word out at the time. Of course, the rumor mill was running overtime as soon as the news hit the internet.
In November of this year, Idris was a bit more definitive in his denials at the TIME100 Next Gala, although his somewhat bemused attitude was also somewhat familiar. Anyone who has been following the Marvel universe for any length of time will recognize this dance: Deny, deflect, smile, repeat.
Most recently, at the Golden Globes, Idris thanked his fans for their support and spoke well of the direction of the Black Panther franchise. He did not say much, although somehow, this also seemed to be saying quite a lot.
Marvel has yet to announce the upcoming Black Panther 3 or the casting of Avengers: Doomsday, although, of course, Marvel’s silence is rarely silence at all. Regardless of whether or not Damson Idris ends up playing the part, one thing is for sure: the story of Wakanda is far from over, and Marvel is closer than they have ever been to allowing a new Black Panther to rise.
