Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is expected to end the intermediary saga of Marvel’s Phase 4. The era, though accompanied by its fair share of successes and struggles, served to bring several MCU characters into the equation and deliver a form of genesis arc for the next generation of new superheroes like Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, Wiccan, Speed, America Chavez, Monica Rambeau, and She-Hulk.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Box Office Projections
New reports are in for the highly anticipated Black Panther sequel. The original film had not only redefined expectations and shattered records but also skyrocketed into the 5th highest-grossing film of all time. But the projected box office earnings for Wakanda Forever are not too favorable as compared to the first film.
According to Cinelytics, a content analytics firm that computes scales of projected earnings, including video-on-demand sales and television deals, reports indicate that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will square up to a domestic earning of $423.5 million against the $701 million of its predecessor. This unfortunately means the highly-anticipated sequel will drop roughly 40% in profit compared to Black Panther. The report also puts it directly in competition with Captain Marvel which grossed $426.8 million.
Will #RecastTChalla Movement Affect Black Panther 2 Sales?
It is now widely known that Chadwick Boseman personified King T’Challa and introduced a superhero previously unmatched in the MCU. However, after his passing in 2020 and with the absence of Chadwick Boseman being felt throughout, Marvel’s decision to honor the legendary actor by not recasting T’Challa has touched a nerve among several people. The sequel film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, will now serve to honor the actor’s legacy by moving forward with the plot.
But the #RecastTChalla movement serves as an extension of that legacy and doesn’t intend to dishonor the actor. Vocal advocates of the movement preach that by extinguishing T’Challa from the MCU, the exemplary role which Boseman innately brought to life vanishes into oblivion. Instead, Marvel needs to keep his memory alive by passing on the title along with the name to someone who can continue on as T’Challa, thus enduring the legacy of MCU’s first Black Panther in its entirety.
Considering that Kevin Feige has ultimately decided to pass on the mantle instead of recasting the role, the projected drop in sales could be an indication of audience dissatisfaction with the decision of never witnessing T’Challa in action again.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Plot Details and Release
Wakanda Forever will introduce into MCU, for the very first time, Namor the Sub-Mariner. The human-Atlantean hybrid has been the very first antihero of the comic world, with his origin beginning in 1939 via Timely Comics, the predecessor of Marvel Comics. The character shares a similar set of enhanced abilities as DC’s later creation, Aquaman. Namor, the prince of Atlantis, played by Tenoch Huerta, will rise from his world in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and declare war against those that live on the surface for their centuries of wrongdoings against the marine world.
Wakanda Forever will also bring back Martin Freeman‘s Everett K. Ross as the African nation opens up to the world and endures the political power struggle in its aftermath. Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, and Winston Duke will all resume their roles from the first Black Panther film.
The Ryan Coogler-directed Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premieres on November 11, 2022.
Source: Variety
