Late actor Chadwick Boseman will now be honored in the original Black Panther with an opening montage that highlights his appearance in the titular role. Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger announced the change on Twitter.
“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,” Iger tweeted Saturday.
Boseman passed away on August 28 at the age of 43 after a four-year battle with colon cancer. He kept his illness a secret from all but a few people close to him, and continued working while receiving treatment for the disease.
Marvel Entertainment tweeted out a short video clip that shows the film’s newly added tribute. The caption reads, “Long live the king. #WakandaForever.” The short montage is similar to the one done for Marvel Comics writer Stan Lee in Captain Marvel, which released just four months after Lee’s death in 2018.
Marvel Studios recently set plans with director Ryan Coogler to begin shooting Black Panther 2 in July 2021. It’s still unclear how the franchise will proceed after the loss of Boseman, but a producer made it clear that the studio would not be using a CGI double to fill in for the late star.