How Kasper Cole Could Save Black Panther 3 and Honor T’Challa’s Legacy Perfectly

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The Marvel Studios films have achieved remarkable success, and it’s safe to say that both their appeal and the popularity of the characters may extend beyond the boundaries of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this success comes with challenges, as maintaining the series can be difficult due to logistical hurdles. One potential solution I suggest is to take a new approach, offering an unexpected form of closure and release for fans.

In a somewhat clandestine manner, there’s been buzz surrounding the upcoming potential third installment of “Black Panther”. A shift in narrative focus from Wakanda could prove beneficial, focusing instead on the lesser-known but pivotal character, Kasper Cole. Despite not being as prominent today, he concluded Black Panther’s significant run during the contemporary comic book era. From a storytelling perspective, opting for Kasper Cole offers a more captivating direction for the third Marvel Cinematic Universe “Black Panther” film, especially to avoid the franchise seeming repetitive or stagnant.

Marvel Needed to Recast T’Challa – But It’s Simply Too Late Now

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Was an Unnecessarily Boring Dirge of a Movie

From a battle against cancer that came out of nowhere, he had transformed into an embodiment of T’Challa/Black Panther more profoundly than ever before. As his loved ones have shared, he yearned for the iconic role to continue long after him, perhaps even with a new actor taking on the mantle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Unfortunately, fate had other plans, and the way the movie unfolded in the MCU left me puzzled by its widespread acclaim.

I initially found the first “Black Panther” film not as outstanding as many suggested, primarily due to its weak third act and at times poor CGI. It seemed to me that it wasn’t significantly different from typical MCU productions (particularly in comparison to T’Challa’s more impressive portrayal in another instance), yet it appeared to be overly lauded for political and cultural reasons. With the sad events surrounding the second movie, it received even more unmerited praise.

The promotion for Marvel’s movie suggested it was a continuation of Chadwick Boseman’s funeral, which was inappropriate on multiple levels. To add insult to injury, the film’s story moved at an agonizingly slow pace, likely aiming to appear profound. Unfortunately, the MCU’s portrayal of Namor fell short, and the inclusion of Riri Williams/Ironheart, a character I and many others didn’t care for in the comics, made the adaptation even worse. To make matters more frustrating, the political intrigue that has become synonymous with the character felt tired and dull, particularly since it seemed to imitate the style of “Game of Thrones,” a decade after my interest in such emulations had waned.

As a fan, I can’t help but feel that, given my admiration for director Ryan Coogler’s previous works such as the first “Creed” and the original “Black Panther”, it seems that he and the team behind the second “Black Panther” were perhaps too emotionally impacted by the trauma of Chadwick Boseman’s passing. While I understand the desire to create a sequel, the timing was simply too raw for those involved with the film to deliver the follow-up that fans truly deserved. The production should have been postponed for several years or entrusted to another creative mind to distance it from the real-life tragedy and ensure a more fitting continuation of the story.

Neither of T’Challa’s MCU Replacements Can Fill His Shoes

I Think Skipping Over Shuri and T’Challa II Is for the Best

Wakanda Forever,” which was released a few years down the line, it might have been wiser for Marvel Studios to choose 2022 as its release year. However, considering the studio’s recent timeline, releasing the movie when they did seems more strategically sound in hindsight.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) started displaying significant fissures. The initial misstep in 2021 with Eternals was followed by profitable yet generally disapproved sequels for Thor and Doctor Strange. In 2022, the MCU’s movies continued to be box office successes, but 2023 saw one hit and two major flops. As a result, Wakanda Forever served as a farewell to Marvel Studios’ reign, without offering a clear path forward.

People who find promise in this concept might want to consider the over-the-top final fight scene in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” as it seems like a win that wasn’t truly deserved. I have reservations about whether she possesses the necessary weight or impact, and many viewers have already expressed dissatisfaction with how Shuri has been characterized in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and contemporary comics. Her exceptional intelligence is often presented as a means to belittle others, particularly her brother who is also portrayed as a genius. The frequent swaps of characters’ roles in films and comics have caused quite a stir, and it’s puzzling to introduce examples from the latter that didn’t succeed.

In the comics, Shuri’s short term as Black Panther wasn’t disliked, but most significant Black Panther storylines have typically starred T’Challa. It seems challenging to imagine a film series continuation where Shuri takes on the role of Black Panther, given that the second movie emphasized T’Challa’s death and actor, and even this approach saw a considerable drop in ticket sales compared to the first movie (although it still made a profit). Remarkably, its earnings were lower than Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which was released earlier in the year.

I find no compelling reason to involve Shuri in a new Black Panther movie, given that Disney/Marvel Studios seem hesitant about the idea. The closing scene of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduces T’Challa’s son, who is yet a boy. As he grows older, it’s expected that he might assume his father’s role and potentially become the new Black Panther. However, this solution isn’t immediately apparent since the young boy would need to be aged up before being of any real assistance in the storyline.

It seems quite unnatural, even considering the multiverse twists in the MCU, that T’Challa was not recast from the beginning instead of continuing with the current storyline. Moreover, I struggle to envision how the series can progress given its current course and the adaptation of major “Black Panther” comic book arcs. However, there is a possible new direction for the franchise that could be intriguing, but it would require abandoning Shuri and T’Challa II in favor of another character.

Kasper Cole Is the Only Way Forward for the MCU Black Panther

The More Street-Level Black Panther Can Offer a Reprieve from Boring Palace Politics

In contrast to T’Challa, who is widely recognized as the Black Panther, there exists another character named Kevin “Kasper” Cole who took up this mantle in the comics. Although not directly related to Wakanda like T’Challa, Kasper assumed the role of the Black Panther when he wore a costume donated by Wakanda to a museum and used it to clear his name after being framed as a cop in New York City. Along his journey, he eventually crossed paths with T’Challa, the genuine Black Panther, thereby becoming entwined in the broader narrative of this iconic character.

Christopher Priest’s tenure on Black Panther concluded with the introduction of Everett Ross, a character featured in the first Black Panther film. Kasper Cole’s narratives, however, differed significantly from the lofty themes that have characterized Black Panther comics since. With their street-level focus and stark contrast to the grandiosity that has become synonymous with the comic book series, Cole’s stories could be just what the Marvel Cinematic Universe requires as a fresh change of pace.

In essence, the multiverse has not been successfully implemented within Marvel storytelling due to its reliance on nostalgic appearances rather than substantive plot development. This is because removing human, relatable stakes from stories undermines tension, and when events become too otherworldly, viewers lose interest. Some comic book ideas, like the interstellar Wakandan empire, have been met with skepticism. To refresh the Black Panther storyline, a shift in direction might be beneficial for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The character Kasper Cole’s portrayal as Black Panther in the upcoming series could offer a unique perspective, while simultaneously distancing itself from the familiar power struggles within Wakanda’s royal court. In doing so, it would redefine the Black Panther mantle and explore legacy characters, all while continuing to develop themes introduced in previous films.

As a devoted fan, I might express it like this:

Kasper Cole, being a multiracial NYC cop, could find himself unconcerned about some far-off African nation, mirroring the disconnect many ordinary folks in rough neighborhoods worldwide feel towards T’Challa and the Black Panther title. This perspective would serve to challenge Wakanda’s perceived significance and echo some of Erik Killmonger’s thoughts from the 2018 film “Black Panther.” In essence, it would reinterpret these ideas, offering a more critical viewpoint on Wakanda’s importance and suggesting that misusing the Black Panther name for personal gain could be a critique of mantle swaps and their potential to undermine certain characters and storylines.

Towards the finale of the movie, Kasper might encounter and converse with Shuri, gaining insights into the significance of Black Panther for her and acknowledging that her brother has perished. This conversation could set a melancholic tone, suggesting that although some symbols and concepts remain everlasting, it’s crucial to lay others to rest. However, there might be a faint glimmer of hope that in the future, T’Challa II, the only one truly deserving, could resurrect the Black Panther legacy once more.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but ponder over the possibility that Black Panther 3 could serve as a heartfelt farewell to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Black Panther saga, echoing the emotional goodbye we bid to T’Challa and Chadwick Boseman in the previous installment. By revisiting cherished themes with a fresh perspective, it could perfectly cap off the story that came before, given the growing need for such closure.

The MCU that fans have grown attached to might be nearing its end, with whispers of a potential reboot for the shared universe circulating. This would align with the current state of confusion in the MCU narrative, not to mention the way certain characters have been managed.

Due to recent events, a significant portion of the initial dedicated fanbase has lost interest. If Marvel decides to reintroduce the character, it presents an opportunity to recast T’Challa permanently and potentially incorporate classic tales. Prior to any changes and the potential recasting of his entire supporting cast, a conclusive chapter is necessary to wrap up the storyline in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This step is essential for paying homage to the brand appropriately, although it’s important to remember that no actor can truly replace T’Challa, just as any other potential successor would struggle to fill his shoes.

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2025-05-12 04:26