Marvel Studios’ first animated series What If…? has premiered, and is already receiving rave reviews. The first episode of the series explored an alternate reality wherein Peggy Carter takes the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, bringing Captain Carter into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But, fans are now looking forward to Chadwick Boseman’s last performance as T’Challa, and the series creators remembered him on premiere day.
Before he tragically died of colon cancer in August 2020, Boseman had played his part in bringing the second episode of What If…? to life. The focus will be on T’Challa’s foray into space as Star-Lord, and Boseman will return one last time to reprise this phenomenal character. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, What If…? writer A.C. Bradley and director Bryan Andrews remembered their last call with the late Black Panther actor.
It has been confirmed that the second episode of What If…? will feature Yondu, played by Michael Rooker, abducting T’Challa instead of Peter Quill. Fans have already seen what Quill’s escapades in outer space look like in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, but now they get a chance to witness T’Challa save the world, or space, from evil villains. Andrews explains in the interview how Boseman truly enjoyed the “idea of being able to play this slightly different version of T’Challa,” and how he goes on to change the galaxy.
It turns out that T’Challa will be making minor appearances in other episodes of What If…? during the first season. The recording for these was done during the ongoing pandemic, which meant Boseman met with the director and recording artists over Zoom calls. On the last day of recording, Andrews remembers telling Boseman how much he “personally thought of him.” Unfortunately, at the time, he wasn’t aware of Boseman’s diagnosis and didn’t realize it would be the last time he would be speaking to the actor.
Bradley also remembers Boseman in good words and had the “sad honor of writing” some of his final lines, while she obviously didn’t know that at the time. The last time she saw him was when he came to record his lines for episode 2, and she joked with him about how he didn’t just bring his A-game to the table, but instead “brought every damn sport there is.” Looking back, she recalls how Boseman was passionate about making the T’Challa episode shine, but nobody at the time realized why. “The world is a little sadder for it,” she said.
What If…? is now streaming on Disney Plus.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter