MCU fans mourn as Black Panther project cancelled
According to one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s high-ranking execs, a follow-up to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has been scrapped and will seemingly be reworked into other projects down the line.
As reported by TV Line's Nick Caruso (per an interview with Pay or Wait), Brad Winderbaum (Marvel's Head of TV) has revealed that the Disney+ live-action series Okoye has been cancelled.
“I love Okoye. I think fans of Okoye are going to be excited to see her come back, but I don’t think it’s going to be on a television show,” Winderbaum told Pay or Wait.
“I can’t say where or when, but I think there’s a lot to look forward to.”
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The Okoye series, originally announced back in 2021, was supposed to serve as a spin-off to the 2022 MCU film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
It would have starred Danai Gurira, who would have reprised her role as Okoye, and would have apparently served as an origin story for the character.
Over on the r/Superhero_News subreddit, fans shared their reactions to Okoye’s cancellation.
“Yeah it’s clear with Marvel Studios’s focus on cutting back after The Marvels failed, that this project wouldn’t make it,” commented user ChildofObama.
“I think outside of Daredevil:Born Again, live action Disney+ shows are on the way out in general.”
“I would’ve been excited to see more of the Wakandans and the Dora Milaje, but I think Disney/Marvel is hedging its bets right now,” replied user iLLiCiT_XL.
“They need some certified wins and they’re reining it in creatively.”
I don’t think there’s much to say that the commenters here haven’t already eloquently tackled, because it’s clearly that Disney were throwing anything they could into production back in 2021.
That isn’t to say that the Okoye series couldn’t have been good, but rather that (now that Disney is cutting back on MCU-related content) it’s not a surprise the series has been cut this late into the game.