The Walt Disney Co. paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman on Sunday, adding a new intro sequence to the opening credits of “Black Panther” on what would have been the actor’s 44th birthday.
The roughly 30-second addition, which aired on Disney+ and was shared by Marvel Studios on social media, features a highlight montage of Boseman’s iconic role as Wakanda’s King T’Challa, known to the world as Black Panther, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Long live the King. #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/FHiJDVQ3NS
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) November 29, 2020
Boseman died Aug. 28, following a private, four-year battle with colon cancer.
The credits tweaks also included shading the Marvel logo in all purple, and the studio behind the global phenomenon tweeted, “Long live the King. #WakandaForever”
Disney chairman Bob Iger teased the homage on Saturday.
To all fans of #BlackPanther: watch the film on #DisneyPlus late tonight, for a special tribute to someone that was and will always be near and dear to our hearts.
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) November 28, 2020
Marvel, meanwhile, penned its own tribute to the actor.
“The loss of the late Boseman and the legacy he leaves behind, especially for the Black and African American communities, is immeasurable. Throughout his career, Boseman highlighted the history and power of Black legends, such as Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall on screen and brought their voices and aspirations into hearts and homes everywhere,” the studio wrote, adding, “The embodiment of compassion, dignity, grace and excellence, Boseman’s courage and talent on- and off- the screen demonstrated that anyone could be a Super Hero.”
According to THR, Marvel is now preparing to begin shooting “Black Panther 2” in Atlanta in July, with Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta in talks to play a major role. Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Angela Bassett are expected to reprise their roles in the new feature.
Cox Media Group