Chadwick Boseman's brother has said that the late actor would be in favor of recasting his iconic role in Black Panther.

Boseman - who died after a secret four-year battle with cancer in 2020 - played the titular character in Marvel's superhero flick about a technologically advanced African nation.

Boseman in Black Panther. Credit: AF archive / Alamy

Since his tragic death last year, fans have called for his character King TChalla to be recast so that he can live on in the MCU franchise.

Now Boseman's own brother Derrick has sided with fans, saying that allowing a new actor to step into the Black Panther's shoes is what he would have wanted.

In an interview with TMZ, He explained that there aren't many "positive influences for young Black children," who don't often see themselves represented in superhero films.

By killing T'Challa off so quickly after Boseman passed, Derrick thinks Marvel will deprive young Black kids of a positive role model.

"Chadwick never explicitly expressed his wishes, before his death, about what should happen with the character," Derrick clarified - but as one of the people closest to him, he believes that the actor would have wanted his character to live on.

Boseman in 2018. Credit: Sipa US / Alamy

Fans are clamoring for a recasting, with #RecastTchalla trending on Twitter and a Change.org petition asking Marvel to "recast King T'Challa to honor Chadwich Boseman" amassing over 44,000 signatures.

"If Marvel Studios removes T’Challa, it would be at the expense of the audiences (especially Black boys and men) who saw themselves in him," reads the petition's description.

"By not recasting, it could stifle the opportunity for one of the most popular, leading Black superheroes to add on to their legacy. The number one way to kill a legend is to stop telling their story."

"#RecastTChalla was started based on [Boseman's] views, not fan entitlement," wrote one user. 

"The image of a black male king of a technologically advanced society, which is the story of T'Challa aka THE Black Panther, is too powerful to let end & prestigious to replace with fanfiction," tweeted another, adding that the character "deserves Spider-Man-esk support."

"Chadwick Boseman worked through cancer to give T’Challa life. Now you want to kill off T’Challa despite Chadwick Boseman’s hard work and sacrifice?" wrote a third.

The recent surge in the movement comes amid reports that Boseman's former co-star Letitia Wright may be bowing out of the Black Panther sequel due to conflicts over vaccines.

Letitia Wright and Boseman in Black Panther. Credit: Collection Christophel / Alamy

Wright - who played T'Challa's younger sister Shuri - is believed to be unvaccinated, The Gamer reports. If this is the case, Hollywood's vaccine mandate could make it impossible for her to continue working within the MCU.

Featured Image Credit: AF archive / Alamy

On Friday (August 28), the acting world lost one of its most talented and groundbreaking performers when it was revealed that Chadwick Boseman had passed away at the age of 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/chadwickboseman/status/1299530165463199747]]

Since the tragic news was announced, many of Boseman's fans, friends, and co-stars have taken to social media to pay their respects to the actor.

Celebrities like Josh Gad and the Obamas have all shared their memories of Boseman, and now Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has revealed that the actor played a huge role in helping to create such an integral movie.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]]

Released in 2018, Black Panther was hailed for its empowering representation of black people, and became the first Marvel movie ever to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Coogler has revealed just how much of the iconic movie Boseman personally helped to establish, telling the publication:

"While filming the movie, we would meet at the office or at my rental home in Atlanta, to discuss lines and different ways to add depth to each scene.

"We talked costumes, military practices. He said to me, 'Wakandans have to dance during the coronations. If they just stand there with spears, what separates them from Romans?'"

And Coogler also revealed that Boseman was behind one of the film's most powerful lines. (Spoilers ahead.)

Following a battle with friend-turned-enemy Erik Killmonger (played by Michael B. Jordan), King T'Challa tells him that Wakandan scientists will still be able to heal him and save his life.

[[imagecaption|| Credit: PA Images]]

However, Killmonger refuses and tells T'Challa:

"Why, so you can lock me up? Nah. Just bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships, 'cause they knew death was better than bondage."

Well, it turns out Boseman was fundamental in shaping this iconic moment, with Coogler revealing: "In early drafts of the script, Eric Killmonger’s character would ask T’Challa to be buried in Wakanda. Chad challenged that and asked, 'What if Killmonger asked to be buried somewhere else?'"

After Coogler shared his memories of working with Boseman, many of the actor's fans took to Twitter to share their reactions:

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/gothspiderbitch/status/1300586156917166080]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/bbyxzee/status/1300565419661512704]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/VictoriaAveyard/status/1300563169413230592]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/jkozal/status/1300129909008982017]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/jessicagolds/status/1300150541792825344]]

Our thoughts are with Boseman's family, friends, and fans at this time...

American actor Chadwick Boseman has died at the age of 43 after a four year battle with colon cancer.

The South Carolina-born star passed away at his Los Angeles home last night, his family confirmed in a statement.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/chadwickboseman/status/1299530165463199747]]

Posting to social media, Boseman's family revealed that he had in fact been diagnosed with the disease back in 2016 - choosing to keep the situation away from the public eye as he continued to make movies. They also revealed that Boseman had been surrounded by loved ones when he passed, writing:

"A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much," his family said in the statement.

"From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and several more - all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/MarkRuffalo/status/1299541402800533505]]

Boseman, who worked on dozens of high profile hits as both an actor and producer rose to prominence for his performances as baseball legend Jackie Robinson in the 2013 biopic '42', as well as celebrated singer James Brown in 2016's 'Get On Up'. He won critical praise and recognition for both roles.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1299545362479411201]]

It was, however, for his performance in the 2018 Marvel mega-hit 'Black Panther' that Boseman will be best remembered. The film has come to be recognised as a seminal moment in modern cinema, not just for its critical praise and content, but for its largely black cast. Boseman's role as King T'Challa spanned several movies across the Marvel Cinematic Universe and prompted Boseman to say that Black Panther's impact had fundamentally changed what it meant to be "young, gifted and black".

The hashtag #WakandaForever has been trending as tribute pour in from around the world.

Marvel fans are urging studio bosses not to recast Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther 2, following the actor's death on August 29, after a four-year battle with colon cancer.

Chadwick is best known for playing the lead role in Marvel's Black Panther film franchise.

After joining the Marvel universe back in 2014, Chadwick starred in the first Black Panther film in 2018, and was due to appear in the sequel, which is scheduled for release on May 6, 2022.

However, following the actor's tragic passing, Marvel will have to decide whether the film will go ahead, and if a new actor should be cast in the lead role.

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/CEdLs05FWTn/]]

Marvel fans, however, appear not to want Chadwick to be recast in the upcoming feature, and have taken to Twitter to express their views.

"Chadwick Boseman is more than a comic book character, and Black Panther 2 should be the least of your concern. that being said, please don't recast T'Challa. respect Chadwick's work. have Shuri rule next according to the storyline. but don't let someone replace him. honour him," wrote one Twitter user, while another corroborated: "I know shows and movies have recast characters whose portrayers died before, but I don't think fans would accept a new T'Challa right now. If they want to still make Black Panther 2, have Shuri become the lead and dedicate the film to Chadwick's memory."

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/hometoharryx/status/1299632797775089665]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/AlanSarapa/status/1299535237223985152]]

"Ok, Let Me Make Something Clear: I don't wanna see any tweets talking about Black Panther 2 right now either about what's gonna happen to it, who's gonna take the reigns or if there will be a recast. Now isn't Time. Now is the time to mourn and celebrate a life taken too soon," added a third.

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/movie_charles/status/1299543395124359168]]

The South Carolina-born star passed away at his Los Angeles home on Thursday, his family confirmed in a statement.

Posting to social media, Boseman's family revealed that he had in fact been diagnosed with the disease back in 2016 - choosing to keep the situation away from the public eye as he continued to make movies. They also revealed that Boseman had been surrounded by loved ones when he passed, writing;

"A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much," his family said in the statement. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and several more - all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T'Challa to life in Black Panther."

It would be safe to say that 2018 has been a good year to Chadwick Boseman so far. The actor, who got his major break as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, has been elevated into the Hollywood elite through his role of T'Challa in Black Panther. However, while Boseman is undoubtedly one of the most important, and successful actors, in the past year or so, it could've all been so different if it wasn't for Denzel Washington.

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfi_KsOnAE8/?hl=en&taken-by=chadwickboseman]]

Appearing on Jimmy Fallon last week, Boseman was doing a round of public appearances before last night's Oscar awards. In the show, the actor hid behind a curtain while fans recorded a video message thanking him for his role in Black Panther, unaware of how close to him they were standing. The majority of the messages were heartfelt, with one person saying:

"I just want to say thank you so much for making Black Panther. I can't express how much it means to me and the community and my family. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart for all that you've done, for really being a hero that we really need in a time like this. Thank you so much."

Another woman spoke about the political importance of the movie, saying: "For me, as the mother of a young son, my son's childhood has been defined by Barack Obama and now Black Panther. So, thank you."

However, while Boseman may be held as a fantastic role model for young black men now, he revealed that if it wasn't for the help of Denzel Washington, things wouldn't have worked out in the same way.

[[instagramwidget||https://www.instagram.com/p/BfO69CKnMPx/?hl=en&taken-by=chadwickboseman]]

In an interview with Rolling Stone, the Black Panther star revealed that he had attended acting classes held by Phylicia Rashad, who had encouraged him and his fellow students to apply for the Oxford University summer progam.

But while Boseman and the others were keen on the program, they revealed to Rashad that they couldn't afford to go to the school so she ‘essentially got some celebrity friends to pay for us to go’.

And, on his appearance on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Boseman was grilled on the claim once more, with him finally revealing the identity of his mystery benefactor.

[[youtubewidget||https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYjTkiZ_2R0]]

“Denzel paid for me”, he admitted.

Despite being a teenager at the time, Boseman invited Washing to the New York premiere of Black Panther as a way of repaying him and to thank him in person.

Upon finally meeting Boseman, the actor says that Denzel exclaimed:“Oh so that’s why I’m here, you owe me money!”

Not only has Black Panther made an impact politically, it's also resulted in a huge surge of black cats being adopted in the US. In a much-shared Tumblr post, one animal shelter in Colorado has seen 50 - 60 black cats be adopted since the release of the movie.

So, as it transpires, not only is Denzel Washington a great actor, he is also a great man. And, thanks to him, we now have Chadwick Boseman.