Daniel Kaluuya won’t reprise his role in ‘Black Panther 2’ due to scheduling conflict

Another familiar face will be missing from the “Black Panther” sequel!

Daniel Kaluuya, who played the head of security and best friend of the “Black Panther” himself, T’Challa, recently confirmed that although he was asked to return and reprise his role in the “Black Panther” sequel, he had to turn it down. A lot of fans are wondering, what could possibly be the reason for him not returning? It looks like he had already committed to starring in “Nope,” Jordan Peele’s upcoming horror movie.

This is another blow to “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” as we all know the movie and the world took a major loss when Chadwick Boseman passed away after a four-year battle with colon cancer in 2020. While the fate of a sequel was in question for some time, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed last June that the sequel was happening and had already started filming at Atlanta’s Pinewood Studios. Feige also added that the production was “very emotional” without Boseman but they wanted to honor him. “Everyone is also very excited to bring the world of Wakanda back to the public and back to the fans,” Feige said. “We’re going to do it in a way that would make Chad proud.”

Feige had already made the announcement that in honor of Boseman, the movie would not recast the role of the Black Panther. Instead, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “will explore the world of Wakanda & the rich characters introduced in the first film,” according to Disney’s Twitter.

In April of this year, Boseman’s costar, Lupita Nyong’o said director Ryan Coogler addresses Boseman’s absence with care. “At the same time, we have a leader in Ryan, who feels very much like we do, who feels the loss in a very, very real way as well,” Nyong’o said. “The way which he has reshaped the second movie is so respectful of the loss we’ve all experienced as a cast and as a world.”