There's no denying that the Black Panther franchise boasts a stellar ensemble consisting of award-winning actors but it turns out that the upcoming sequel lost one of its acclaimed stars. We learned last month that Daniel Kaluuya won't be returning in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to play W'Kabi and according to the British actor, scheduling conflicts prevented him from accepting the project.
W'Kabi played a significant role in the first film being T'Challa's best friend and Okoye's love interest who eventually betrayed Wakanda to align himself with Erik Killmonger. Following Killmonger's defeat, we weren't given any idea regarding W'Kabi's whereabouts but the sequel would've explored it for sure. Unfortunately, it's not going to happen.
Speaking with Variety, Daniel shared that he's already seen the emotionally-charged trailer and while some fans are disappointed that he isn't reprising his role in Black Panther 2, he believes the story doesn't really call for W'Kabi's involvement. He explains: "It’s what’s best for the story, what’s best for the film. I’m excited for it. I’m excited to watch it."
Also Read: Black Panther Star Breaks Silence on Wakanda Forever Removal
Despite not being part of the highly anticipated sequel, you can still say that Kaluuya's career gamble ultimately paid off as Nope was received well by audiences and critics. I'm also sure that Marvel Studios hasn't closed its doors on him and we can expect him to make a comeback in future MCU projects. Still, it's a major bummer that he isn't involved in Wakanda Forever.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits cinemas on November 11, 2022.
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