Director Ryan Coogler will reportedly start production on the Black Panther sequel next summer.
The movie had originally been pegged to begin filming in March, but the schedule was thrown into disarray by the unexpected loss of leading man Chadwick Boseman, who died from a secret battle with cancer in August.
Now Coogler and bosses at Marvel Studios appear to be ready to move forward from the tragedy and continue with the comic book film franchise, with production expected to take place in Atlanta, Georgia in July and last for at least six months, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
It’s unclear how the reworked film will address Boseman’s absence as Black Panther/King T’Challa, but it’s thought Letitia Wright’s character Shuri, the superhero’s sister, will take on a more prominent role.
Wright is expected to return for the sequel, alongside co-stars Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, and Winston Duke.
Meanwhile, “Narcos: Mexico” star Tenoch Huerta is in talks to join the cast as one of the film’s antagonists.
Marvel Studio officials have yet to comment on the sequel news.