Sean Maloney
Tragedy struck Hollywood last summer with the untimely passing of actor Chadwick Boseman at the age of 43. In addition to robbing movie fans of his immense talent, Boseman’s passing has also created complications for the creative minds behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A multifaceted actor, who lit up the silver screen while playing a diverse range of roles during his 12-year career in Hollywood, Boseman is best known for his role as T’Challa/Black Panther in a trio of Marvel films over the two years prior to his death. Indeed, with Boseman’s star shining bright, Black Panther ranks second at the box office among the 24 Marvel Cinematic Universe films to date, raking in over $700 million. With so much on the line, the Marvel creative brain trust now faces the daunting task of selecting both the actor and character that will fill the on-screen shoes left behind by Boseman.
MyTopSportsbooks takes a look at where the value lies on the Black Panther odds. Sports bettors getting into the action for the first time should refer to our betting guide for tips on how to hone their betting strategies.
| What Character will Become the Black Panther? |  |  |
| Shuri | -200 | -200 |
| Nakia | +175 | +175 |
| Okoye | +350 | +350 |
| Erik Killmonger | +500 | +500 |
| M'Baku (Great Gorilla) | +600 | +600 |
| W'Kabi | +700 | +700 |
| Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier) | +1000 | +1000 |
| Field (all others) | +400 | +400 |
Boseman’s Death a Blow to Marvel Creative Braintrust
In addition to rocketing Boseman to superstardom, the release of Black Panther in 2018 firmly established the King of Wakanda as one of the most important and popular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Boseman’s death is not expected to bring a premature end to the Black Panther story, it has certainly created complications for the makers of the highly anticipated sequel.
Chadwick Boseman wins posthumous #BETAwards for Best Actor. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/yiCVSm9uif
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) June 28, 2021
A very private person by nature, Boseman hid his battle with colon cancer from the cast and crew during the filming of Black Panther, adding to the shock of his unexpected passing. But as filmgoers now, and now expect, anything is possible in the world of superheroes. That includes a fitting tribute to Boseman in Black Panther 2 and a logical continuation to the Wakanda saga. The sister of T’Challa, it would make sense that the burden of leadership in Wakanda and the mantle of Black Panther passes to Shuri. That is reflected in the sportsbooks, with Shuri leading the way as a heavy -200 favorite on the Entertainment odds at Xbet. However, with such a wide and diverse range of characters available to choose from, it is worth searching for value further down the odds board.
Lupita Nyong’o’s Star Power Undeniable
A leading member of the War Dogs, Wakanda’s intelligence service, and T’Challa’s lover, Nakia played a pivotal role in Black Panther and sits second to Shuri as a +175 wager to take over as Black Panther on the Entertainment odds at MyBookie. In addition, Nakia’s experience in dealing with the outside world gives her a unique advantage over other prospective candidates.
#OKOYE x #TCHALLA x #SHURI: the big three!! pic.twitter.com/inRZvrXffN
— zenon (@LAHA1INE) June 25, 2021
Perhaps more important are the boxes that Nakia checks for the producers of Black Panther 2. With diversity high on the priority list, both Shuri and Nakia fit the bill. Her selection as the next Black Panther would add yet another woman to the lineup of Marvel superheroes, and also make her the first African woman to take on a major superhero role. As for the actresses themselves, Lupita Nyong’o, who portrays Nakia, would also bring massive star power to the role. Nyong’o has enjoyed a meteoric rise to superstardom since winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2013 for her role in 12 Years a Slave and offers the best value among the betting candidates.
Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, who played opposite Chadwick Boseman as his love interest in the 2018 blockbuster ‘Black Panther,’ took to social media today to mourn her friend https://t.co/Acg5sbFUFi pic.twitter.com/LBL6Rwq0u6
— Forbes (@Forbes) September 8, 2020
Bovada had British actor Rege-Jean Page listed as a heavy favorite to fill Boseam’s shoes earlier this year. However, sports betting fans should expect the next Black Panther to be a woman, and avoid the attraction of the +200 odds of Boseman being succeeded by a man when the Black Panther once again appears in a Marvel film.
Jordan a Good Bet to Return to Wakanda
But if it is star power that Marvel is looking for, the filmmakers should look no further than Michael B. Jordan. No stranger to the superhero genre, Jordan has played a wide variety of characters in both the Marvel and DC Cinematic Universes, including the Human Torch in the 2015 version of Fantastic Four, and Cyborg in the Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox.
Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, who played opposite Chadwick Boseman as his love interest in the 2018 blockbuster ‘Black Panther,’ took to social media today to mourn her friend https://t.co/Acg5sbFUFi pic.twitter.com/LBL6Rwq0u6
— Forbes (@Forbes) September 8, 2020
Jordan got a taste of life as a villain in Black Panther, taking on the role of Black Panther’s nemesis Erik Killmonger, for which he received positive reviews for bringing depth and a tragic sense to the role. Of course, fans will recall that Killmonger perished during the first installment of Black Panther, but with Jordan public stating his openness to returning to Wakanda, the odds of Jordan appearing in Black Panther sit at an attractive +900 at MyBookie. Killmonger also sits among the favorites to take over as the next Black Panther, listed at +500. But while seeing the talented Jordan extend his tenure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, fans should expect to see him maintain his villainous ways onscreen.
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