Marvel boss Kevin Feige has confirmed that Chadwick Boseman's role in the Black Panther franchise will not be recast.
The actor died in August at the age of just 43 following a private battle with colon cancer in a tragic development that took Feige and his MCU colleagues by surprise.
Marvel is pressing ahead with plans for a second standalone Black Panther movie despite the loss of Boseman, although Feige insists that it will be done in a way that 'honours his legacy'.
"I wanted to acknowledge the devastating loss of a dear friend and member of the Marvel Studios family," he said during Disney's Investor Day.
"Chadwick Boseman was an immensely talented actor and an inspirational individual who affected all of our lives professionally and personally.
"His portrayal of T'Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends iteration of the character in any other medium from Marvel's past.
"To honour the legacy that Chad helped us build through his portrayal of the king of Wakanda, we want to continue to explore the world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film."
Black Panther 2 is due to be filmed next year ahead of a scheduled release on July 8, 2022.
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