After months of back and forth over whether the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) should recast the character T’Challa, the Black Panther, Marvel fans are now doubling down on a demand for the character to be brought back despite the death of actor Chadwick Boseman.

The hashtag ‘recasttchalla’ is trending on Twitter as fans fear the removal of the first major black male lead in the MCU.

Black Panther is a 2018 Marvel superhero film featuring T’Challa’s return home to Wakanda to inherit his throne after his father’s death and the subsequent to challenge from a long lost cousin, Killmonger.

The role of T’Challa was played to international acclaim by Boseman. However, just two years later came the unfortunate and surprising news of the American actor’s untimely death ahead of filming of the Black Panther sequel.

With the rewritten sequel, Wakanda Forever, set to be released in November, the reality has appeared to have now settled in that T’Challa will not return, leaving some fans saying this decision is a setback for the black community and shows bias to white male leads in the MCU.

I’m sure Coogler did his best to honor both Chadwick and T’Challa’s legacies. Even now, it has to be hard on the cast. That said, @MarvelStudios really should have #RecastTChalla. Its not fair to black boys to see a King that looks like them be shelved so soon. #WakandaForever

— Reginald Andreas (@ReginaldAndreas) August 19, 2022

They recast Batman, Superman, bond, Spider-Man . All the time. Yet the first major black hero that white kids actually know. One and done.

I strongly believed King t’challa could be as well known as the name Clark Kent in 40 years.

Clearly not anymore.

— RichB (@Richjb77) August 19, 2022

Why does all the WHITE superheros get multiple people playing the same role!! Spiderman had what 3? batman had too many..superman..i can go on and on #RecastTChalla damnit! Yall just dont wanna see us being powerful

— Loll16 (@Loll161) August 19, 2022

Despite calls to recast the character, some fans are welcoming the rumoured idea of Letitia Wright, who plays T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, taking over the mantle of Black Panther.

With the movie said to be almost complete, with just a few last minute reshoots to go, some fans have accepted that it is too late to recast the role this time around, but have suggested that T’Challa be brought back for a third ‘Black Panther’ film in the future.

It’s not!! We love Shuri. Can’t wait to see what else she brings tonthr table and the best part of #BlackPanther has always been the women bringing everything they have to this film.

We can still be concerned about what all this means for T’Challa’s legacy. #RecastTChalla

— Me’Sa Dyani 🖤 #RecastTchalla #SaveTchalla (@Dyani_2u) August 19, 2022

#RecastTChalla supports Shuri as the Black Panther. We aren’t asking for the recasting or continued portrayal of the Black Panther. Anyone can hold the mantle. We are asking that it’s titular character – T’Challa – continues

— TopSide7717 (@side7717) August 19, 2022