There has been no shortage of theories that have flooded the internet as each episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021-) plunges deeper into both Captain America and Marvel lore, but the series' producer was quick to debunk one rumor stirred up by fans. There are spoilers within this article.
Producer Nate Moore denied that actor Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa, otherwise known as Black Panther, would make a cameo within the show, despite predictions made by eager hopefuls. "No. I can say. That is not going to happen," Moore said to Vanity Fair. "I would be honest if it was. Chad's passing is a whole life thing, and I loved the guy as much as the character. I think we have to be very careful and thoughtful about when he appears because he meant so much to a lot of people as much as he meant to us. But yeah, we wouldn't use that as a 'Come next week; maybe you’ll see Panther!' We wouldn’t, and he’s not."
In episode three of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier titled "Power Broker," Ayo of the Dora Milaje, played by Florence Kasumba, confronts Bucky "Winter Soldier" Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and questions him on his decision to free Baron Helmut Zemo (Daniel Bruhl). Zemo was responsible for manipulating the Winter Soldier to kill Wakanda's King T'Chaka (John Kani), during the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016).
Due to the inclusion of Wakandans and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, the idea that the Black Panther would somehow reappear had its embers fanned, flaring up speculation across the Marvel fanbase. Boseman passed in August 2020, and the show filmed from October 2019 to March 2020, leaving some to believe that there was still the ability to work with Boseman. However, Moore's dismissal is quick to debunk the rumors at hand, and while the Black Panther may not be Marvel's mystery characters, there is a wide collection of new names and faces to choose from.