There's always a bit of a moral quandary that follows the tragic passing of a beloved star. What's the best way to continue their legacy on screen while remaining respectful to them? Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker handled this by digitally adding Carrie Fisher to the film via unused footage, though the result was debatable. But now, after the heavy-hitting loss of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman, many are curious to know how that film's sequel will deal with things.
Nate Moore, a producer for Black Panther and its upcoming follow-up Black Panther 2, answered that question quickly and decisively. In a recent interview, the question inevitably came up as to whether the sequel would include some sort of recreation of Boseman's character T'Challa, either as a send-off or something else. Moore did not mince words, flat out denying the possibility with no room for ambiguity.
"No. I can say. That is not going to happen. I would be honest if it was," he said to Vanity Fair, "we wouldn't use that as a 'Come next week; maybe you'll see Panther!' We wouldn't, and he's not." This news likely resulted in a sigh of relief from many who loved and admired Boseman, as trying to resurrect the esteemed actor with computer trickery might be seen as disrespectful to the life he'd lived. Based on the positive reaction to Boseman's posthumous Oscar nomination, there are certainly more palatable ways to honor someone. Moore, who also works as an executive producer for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, seems to understand those feelings and wished to put those minds at ease as well as he could.
It's understandable why some might want to see Boseman one last time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His death was a shock to everyone except his closest loved ones, so abruptly losing him without warning like that likely left many people feeling like they lost more than just an actor whose work they enjoyed. Even director Ryan Coogler recently admitted that writing Black Panther 2 was difficult without Boseman.
Still, it's difficult to deny that respect for the dearly departed should always be taken into account when applicable. Stunts like making a computer-generated Orville Redenbacher or Deepfaking Bob Ross into a Mountain Dew commercial really don't hit the way the people involved seem to think they should. The issue is that deceased people can't give consent to allow their image to be used, and even if they gave passing permission in life, it still feels a bit slimy to attempt.
Tributes to much-loved stars are often best kept to just that: tributes. Wholesome affairs like an in-game Star Wars Galaxies: Legends gathering to remember Carrie Fisher tend to be far more respectful and, as a bonus, they allow more people to get involved than an uncanny-valley recreation in a billion-dollar franchise. It's the personal touch that does it, and thankfully, the folks behind Black Panther 2 seem to understand that.
Black Panther 2 is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 8, 2022.
Source: Vanity Fair