Daniel Kaluuya impressed MCU fans as W’Kabi in 2018’s Black Panther, and after Chadwick Boseman’s tragic death was considered one of the front-runners to take up the heroic mantle and lead the franchise. But when it came time for Wakanda Forever he was nowhere to be seen, as Kaluuya chose to star in Jordan Peele’s Nope instead.
He’s making a Marvel comeback this weekend in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, in which he voices Spider-Punk. In an interview with ComicBook, Kaluuya described his Spider-Verse debut as “the coolest thing in the world. I’m living my dream.” But what of W’Kabi?
Kaluuya was also asked whether he knew if he’d ever reprise the role, and simply said “I wouldn’t even know.” Any third Black Panther movie is a long way away yet, so he and Marvel Studios have a long time to work something out, though there may be a way back sooner via Disney Plus.
We know Marvel Studios is working on a Wakanda-based TV show, with Danai Gurira all but confirming she’ll return as Dora Milaje warrior Okoye to star in it. Okoye and W’Kabi are husband and wife, so it’d make sense for Kaluuya to play some role in a story focused on her.
With the ongoing writer’s strike and no official series announcement, the series may be quite a way away. If it manages to get before the cameras this year we’d expect it in 2025 or 2026, potentially leaving Kaluuya enough time to fit an appearance into his busy schedule.
In the meantime, we’re hyped to hear his Spider-Punk when we head off to see Across the Spider-Verse.