Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, Television and Animation, Brad Winderbaum, has revealed that Marvel’s Black Panther spinoff, previously reported to be a Disney+ series centered on Danai Gurira’s Okoye, is no longer going ahead. Danai Gurira debuted in the MCU as Okoye, the General of Wakanda’s Dora Milaje, in 2018’s Black Panther. She returned for Infinity War, Endgame and 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and was set up to star in her own spinoff series on Disney+, but Okoye’s MCU future has now become less clear.
During the press junket for March 2025’s Daredevil: Born Again, Brad Winderbaum spoke to Pay or Wait and revealed that, while Okoye will be returning to the MCU at some point, this will not be in an MCU TV series. A drama series set in Wakanda was first reported to be in development in February 2021, and Gurira had signed on to return as Okoye. Gurira confirmed these discussions in 2023, but Winderbaum’s new comments suggest that Okoye’s MCU future is not as the lead in her own Black Panther spinoff series.
I love Okoye, I think fans of Okoye are gonna be excited to see her come back, but I don’t think it’s gonna be in a television show. I can’t say where and when, but I think there’s a lot to look forward to.
Okoye’s Future In The MCU Has Become Less Clear
Okoye will not be featured as the star of her own small-screen MCU project, but this doesn’t mean her time in the MCU is done. Ryan Coogler has been confirmed to currently be working on development for Black Panther 3, which will likely include Danai Gurira’s Okoye continuing her career as one of Wakanda’s Midnight Angels, alongside Michaela Coel’s Aneka. Coogler’s work on Black Panther 3 may mean he has little time to simultaneously develop a series for Okoye, though the door may be open for this to happen after the sequel’s release.
|
Okoye’s Live-Action MCU Movie |
Year |
|---|---|
|
Black Panther |
2018 |
|
Avengers: Infinity War |
2018 |
|
Avengers: Endgame |
2019 |
|
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever |
2022 |
|
Black Panther 3 |
TBD |
Marvel Studios’ production of its TV shows for Disney+ has recently been through an epic creative overhaul, and the entire direction of the MCU has been shifted after recent criticisms and controversies. Several shows that were previously in development, such as Nova, Terror Inc. and a Strange Academy series, have now been shelved, and Okoye’s spinoff has joined them. Marvel Animation’s Eyes of Wakanda series will still expand the world of Wakanda in August 2025, but Okoye will have to wait until Black Panther 3 to return to our screens.
Okoye Is The Perfect Character To Lead An MCU TV Series
It’s a huge shame that Danai Gurira won’t be leading her own TV series in the MCU, at least for the foreseeable future. Gurira has proven her ability to headline a series as Michonne in The Walking Dead, and is one of the most popular, fan-favorite characters in the Black Panther franchise, so she was the perfect candidate to star in her own show. Brad Winderbaum’s comments all but confirm that Okoye will be returning, which is some good news. Even so, Okoye’s Black Panther spinoff being canceled could spell bad news for the captivating hero.
Black Panther
8/10
- Release Date
-
February 16, 2018
- Runtime
-
134 Minutes
- Director
-
Ryan Coogler
- Writers
-
Joe Robert Cole, Ryan Coogler
Upcoming MCU Movies
Source: YouTube