Warning: Spoilers to follow for What If…? episode 2.

Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa returns in What If…? episode 2, “What if… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord” but who voices the character? First appearing in Captain America: Civil War before headlining his own MCU entry in Black Panther, T’Challa started out as a prince of the fictional country of Wakanda, but soon became its king due to the death of his father, T’Chaka (John Kani), at the hands of Zemo (Daniel Brühl). He went on to have significant roles in both Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame.

In a terrible loss for those who knew him, as well as his fans, for Hollywood and the MCU, Chadwick Boseman died due to complications from colon cancer on August 28, 2020. It was an unexpected loss for the world as he had kept quiet about his health in the lead up to his death, though he continued to perform, giving lauded performances in such movies as Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, for which he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, and Da Five Bloods, both of which were released in 2020.

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Boseman made a huge impact on the MCU and the lives of its fans with his measured, inspiring portrayal of T’Challa, and he intended to return to play the character again in the sequel, now titled Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. On his death, it appeared that there would be no way to see Boseman in his iconic role again. Fortunately, there is one more opportunity for his fans to see him play T’Challa. Chadwick Boseman does voice T’Challa in What If…? episode 2, though the alternate-history has him play a surprisingly different role in the MCU.

What If…? episode 2 posits the question of what would happen had Yondu’s Ravagers accidentally abducted T’Challa rather than Peter Quill. The character makes a marked difference in this reality as Star-Lord, even managing to convince Thanos that his ambitions were barbaric and needless, suggesting that redistribution of resources would be a better way to serve the universe. It’s a fitting role for what is likely Chadwick Boseman’s last performance, and audiences will get to see even more of him – he voices his iconic character in four separate episodes of What If…?

Director of What If…? Bryan Andrews has revealed that Boseman recorded his part as T’Challa in 2020, and that Boseman was interested in playing different versions of the character. His final portrayal of the character will also make an impact on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with Marvel boss Kevin Feige saying his portrayal of T’Challa helped inspire that movie’s story, and his voice may appear, even though he won’t be able to reprise his role fully. While fans still feel the loss of Chadwick Boseman, it’s very special that What If…? could bring him back to reprise the iconic role of T’Challa one more time.

Key Release Dates
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  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)Release date: Sep 03, 2021
  • Eternals (2021)Release date: Nov 05, 2021
  • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)Release date: May 06, 2022
  • Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)Release date: Jul 08, 2022
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever/Black Panther 2 (2022)Release date: Nov 11, 2022
  • The Marvels/Captain Marvel 2 (2023)Release date: Feb 17, 2023
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)Release date: Jul 28, 2023
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)Release date: May 05, 2023
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Mitch Brook
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Mitch Brook is Features Editor for film and TV at Screen Rant. He’s a writer and editor with a history in a range of media, including as editor for travel and lifestyle titles. The movies he always comes back to are Little Women (2019), Orlando, A Single Man, and The Lord of the Rings.

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