Marvel fans go wild after Chadwick Boseman was announced as the new Black Panther in a brand new video. On the heels of the prolific actor's untimely ing, everyone has been looking back at his legacy through his work on and off-screen. That includes his historic casting as T'Challa in the MCU almost six years ago.
On Friday, August 28, news broke that Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, followed by Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Now, fans can look back on where Boseman's MCU journey started in a new video from the day he was announced as the franchise's Black Panther. In 2014, Marvel Studios hosted an exclusive event that laid out their Phase 3 plans. On the heels of the confirmation that Civil War will be adapted into the big screen, Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans came to the stage for a brief appearance and as a set-up for Boseman's casting confirmation. Aside from the clips, some new behind-the-scenes photos are shared by Jimmy Rich on his official Instagram , check them all out below:
It's worth noting that before Boseman entered the MCU, he was already a revered actor. He brilliantly played iconic Black figures such as Jackie Robinson in 42 and James Brown on Get on Up. Boseman was keen about bringing Black stories into the forefront, which explains why he had a penchant for playing legendary Black personalities like Robinson, Brown, and most recently, Thurgood Marshall in Marshall. While T'Challa is a fictional role, Boseman bringing him to life, especially in Black Panther, had a massive impact on a global scale in of representation in media. It also debunked the myth that minorities cannot spearhead major blockbuster — an idea long propagated by studios, resulting to the lack of diversity in of major movie releases.
Given Boseman's proven acting capabilities and commitment to pushing for Black stories and talents, he was perfect for the role of Black Panther — both in of MCU narrative and what the hero means for proper representation in franchise and industry as a whole. It's no wonder fans were more than enthusiastic about his casting as seen in the videos; it's also the reason why it's so devastating to learn of his death. So while he was only in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a brief period of time, Boseman left an indelible mark that would shape the franchise from years to come.
Source: Jimmy Rich
