Why Daniel Kaluuya Will Not Be In ‘Black Panther 2’ – We Will Miss Him

According to Variety, the British-Ugandan actor Daniel Kaluuya won’t be appearing in the Black Panther sequel when it hits theaters later this year. In the 2018 film Black Panther, Kaluuya played W’Kabi, the head of security for the Wakanda Border Tribe and King T’Challa’s closest friend and confidant.

According to sources who spoke with the media outlet, the 33-year-old was requested to return for the sequel but was unable to do so since he had already agreed to feature in Jordan Peele’s next horror movie Nope.

Rotten Tomatoes awards editor Jacqueline Coley also tweeted on Wednesday about Kaluuya’s decision not to reprise his part. Coley acknowledged that Nope’s “scheduled conflicts” were at blame.

Ryan Coogler returned to direct and also write Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. And though filming was eventually finished in March, there were some problems both before and after it.

Initially, it was planned for Chadwick Boseman to return as King T’Challa and the Black Panther superhero. But due to his tragic passing in 2020, production had to be changed. Following his passing, Disney declared that Boseman wouldn’t be replaced by a different actor. As opposed to that, they stated that the sequel would “explore the realm of Wakanda & the rich characters presented in the first film.”

In a statement to Deadline, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige reaffirmed this and said that the late actor’s “portrayal of T’Challa the Black Panther is iconic and transcends any incarnation of the character in any other medium from Marvel’s past.”

In the 2020 statement, Feige continued, “We want to continue to explore the kingdom of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied people introduced in the first film in order to commemorate the legacy that Chad helped us build with his portrayal of the king of Wakanda.

In June 2021, the film’s production got underway. Letitia Wright, who was hurt while filming in August, required medical attention, so the project was eventually put on hold while she recovered. Following the COVID-19 Omicron wave, production was likewise halted in January, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

On November 11, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be screened in theaters.