This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was packed full of emotion from start to finish, earning tons of positive reactions from fans and has been totally smashing box office records. The film established Shuri as Wakanda’s new queen and protector, officially handing her the title of Marvel’s new Black Panther while simultaneously honoring the legacy built by the incredible Chadwick Boseman.

One of the many ways in which the film paid tribute to the late actor and his character T’Challa was introducing the former King’s son to audiences and Shuri alike in the movie’s post-credit scene. T’Challa’s son, currently going by the Toussaint while he has a normal childhood in Haiti with his mother Nakia, bears his father’s name, giving hope that both Boseman and his character will continue to inspire audiences everywhere. The revelation that T’Challa has a son raises the question of whether Marvel will be doing another time jump in order to see Toussaint claim both the throne and the Black Panther mantle as the crowned prince, or king, of Wakanda.

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The Last Time Jump

Chris Evans as Captain America in Avengers Endgame

The last time Marvel decided to skip ahead a few years was during Avengers: Endgame, and there were some consistency issues that fans were quick to notice. The five-year fast-forward further muddled the already complex timeline, and Marvel still has yet to acknowledge and fix the previous continuity errors. Plus, the addition of the multiverse to the MCU is already complicated enough, and leaping ahead could make it even harder to follow along.

Not to mention, another time skip would most likely result in Shuri’s journey as ruler and hero being cut short. Her character underwent a massive amount of development in Wakanda Forever between losing her brother, her mother, guiding her country into battle and becoming the nation’s new protector. It feels as if Shuri’s story is just beginning, and moving too far forward would rob audiences of the chance to see her progress as she grows more comfortable in her new roles.

All of that said, going from 2018 to 2023 in Avengers: Endgame wasn’t all bad for the MCU, and it did make room for the creation of projects like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Without the time jump, Sam’s journey towards becoming the new Captain America would have looked much different, given that his story was rooted in butting heads with the Flag Smashers, who opposed the government displacing those who found new homes during the blip.

Marvel might be able to benefit from a second major time jump, but right now isn’t the best time to do it. There are too many factors and unfinished multiverse plot lines currently in play that would make going a great deal into the future more confusing for viewers than anything else.

Yes, getting to see Toussaint follow in his father’s footsteps would likely be tons of fun, but doing so at the expense of Shuri doesn't feel like the right move after the events of Wakanda Forever. It also doesn't seem to be something the Black Panther creators are interested in right now.

Recasting T’Challa

A billboard in Wakanda features T'Challa in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and those who worked on Wakanda Forever, including Letita Wright and director Ryan Coogler, have all spoken about their decision not to recast anyone in Boseman’s place. Their aim while making Wakanda Forever was to honor Boseman’s memory, and it’s clear that will continue to be their main goal, no matter what the future of the Black Panther franchise looks like. This largely contributed to the decision to make Shuri the new Black Panther, instead of finding a new actor to take Boseman’s place.

Although jumping ahead and finding a new actor to play Toussaint/Prince T’Challa wouldn’t technically be recasting Boseman, it doesn't appear to be what the Black Panther creators are aiming to do, at least not any time in the near future. If Prince T’Challa does wind up taking on the mantle shared by his father and aunt, it likely won’t happen for a while.

When It Could Happen

Black Panther in Black Panther Wakanda Forever

If Marvel were to do another jump, it probably wouldn’t happen until after Phase 5, at the very earliest. The next era of MCU projects are already being prepared for release and there aren’t any Black Panther projects currently in the lineup. The franchise is planning to dive back into the multiversal conflict plaguing the rest of the world, an issue which has yet to impact those living in Wakanda.

With Phase 5 already mapped out in its entirety and a handful of movies already scheduled for Phase 6, it would probably be best to do a time jump after Phase 6 concludes. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars are meant to hit theaters in 2026, so unless skipping ahead 5 years is already part of the plan, it’s likely fans won’t see Toussaint take the throne for a very long time.

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