Disney+ has officially updated the beginning of Black Panther as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, on what would have been his 44th birthday.
Now when viewers put on Black Panther, they will be met with the usual Marvel comic-book style intro, but with reels and snippets from Chadwick Boseman’s career, both on-screen and behind the scenes. The selected footage hails from a whole bunch of Marvel movies he appeared in, and also includes iconic voice lines from his movies written across the background.
Boseman passed away this year in August, after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. The new intro for Black Panther is now on Disney+, and will remain that way on the streaming service.
You can view the brand new intro for yourself right here.
Long live the King. #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/uW1KisOkTq
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) November 29, 2020
Walt Disney executive Robert Iger announced the change on Twitter, praising Boseman as someone who meant the world to everyone around him.
“To all fans of Black Panther: watch the film on Disney Plus late tonight, for a special tribute to someone that was and will always be near and dear to our hearts,” he wrote.
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.
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) November 28, 2020
Alongside the brand new intro from Disney, there was an outpouring of love online for Boseman, celebrating his legacy on what would have been his 44th birthday.
Stars like Mark Ruffalo and Lupita Nyong’o sent out heartfelt tweets in memory of Boseman, and it really just makes you want to cry.
Thinking of your passion, love, and your light today, @chadwickboseman. Happy Birthday. Wishing we could time travel back to this moment. pic.twitter.com/df94mUaS6b
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) November 29, 2020
Deeply loved, sorely missed. #ChadwickBoseman pic.twitter.com/cMYOnJ4PnN
— Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) November 29, 2020
These are just some of the posts made in Boseman’s name, which all rightfully address him as king. Other celebrities who joined in celebrating Boseman’s life include Common, Danielle Brooks and MC Hammer, whose post featured an entire video reel of all of Boseman’s best moments off-screen.
Chadwick Boseman would have turned 44 years old today. Happy Birthday King. God Bless You. Thank you for using your gift to bring light to this world. RIP. pic.twitter.com/Nv8jS2YcUE
— COMMON (@common) November 29, 2020
Can’t let this day go by without acknowledging the birthday of Chadwick Boseman. You are missed. Rest Easy King!
— Danielle Brooks (@thedanieb) November 30, 2020
Happy Birthday #ChadwickBoseman 👑🙏🏿👑 4EVER 🖤❤️🖤https://t.co/hnXuDcPHw8
— MC HAMMER (@MCHammer) November 29, 2020
Black Panther 2 is scheduled to be released on May 6, 2022, as long as y’know, everything goes according to plan.
There hasn’t been any word on what the movie will be about, but Marvel has confirmed that they will not ‘digitalise’ the actor to appear in the film, which is a huge thumbs up from us. Please, no more digital actors, it’s super weird.
Now excuse me while I go watch Black Panther just to run that intro back again and again.
