As fans patiently await Marvel Studios’ Black Panther 3, a stunning fan-made trailer is making waves online, imagining Will Smith
as the new Black Panther in the MCU. Although it is a concept trailer combining footage from other MCU and Will Smith films (as well as a bit of *shudder* AI usage), the actor appears to have effectively fit into the role of Wakanda’s King. You can check the trailer out below! It’s been nine years since the late, great Chadwick Boseman first brought the character of T’Challa, aka Black Panther, to life with unmatched charisma in Captain America: Civil War, leaving an indelible mark on audiences. In fact, most people find it difficult to imagine anyone else as the Black Panther, much like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans with their respective roles in Iron Man and Captain America.
After Boseman’s passing, Letitia Wright’s Shuri served as the temporary bearer of Black Panther’s mantle in Wakanda Forever. While her performance in the sequel was nothing short of outstanding, the film left Wakanda’s future uncertain, implying that young T’Challa Jr would eventually succeed his father. However, speculation remains about whether someone else will replace Boseman as the new Black Panther, most likely after Avengers: Secret Wars, another watershed moment for the MCU.
According to the concept trailer released by KH Studio, the king’s death has left Wakanda vulnerable, and Shuri is depicted returning to her roots as a tech genius and warrior, leaving Black Panther’s mantle unclaimed. This is when Will Smith emerges as a temporary Black Panther, vowing to protect Wakanda until the true king is found. While the trailer is only fan-made, it raises questions among fans about Smith’s ability to honor Boseman’s legacy as well as playing such a prominent MCU role.
Is Will Smith the Right Casting Choice for Black Panther?

Will Smith has established himself as a phenomenal actor throughout the years, taking on a variety of challenging roles and continuously reinventing himself. In fact, he played Deadshot in 2016’s Suicide Squad, reminding fans that he’s perfectly capable of playing a comic book character. While there are many other actors who could be a better substitute for Chadwick Boseman, Smith is also an excellent choice, but what truly matters is whether the actor would ever actually accept the role.

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As one of the most successful actors in Hollywood, Will Smith previously revealed in a 2022 interview with GQ that he had always wanted to play a black superhero to emphasize the excellence of his people to the world. In his own words:

“I’ve always avoided making films about slavery. In the early part of my career… I didn’t want to show Black people in that light. I wanted to be a superhero. So I wanted to depict Black excellence alongside my white counterparts. I wanted to play roles that you would give to Tom Cruise. And the first time I considered it was Django [Unchained]. But I didn’t want to make a slavery film about vengeance.”

Black Panther 3 is currently in the pre-development stage, with no release date set.

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Black Panther

Release Date

February 16, 2018

Runtime

134 Minutes