Marvel kicking off Atlanta production on Black Panther sequel in July amid COVID-19 pandemic

Marvel Studios has been in an odd position this year, as it was the first with no new release movies since 2009, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

And the studio has also been tasked with finding out how to move forward with one of its most popular characters, following the death of its star.

They’re preparing to kick off production on the Black Panther sequel next July in Atlanta, after the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman in August, as well as the Hollywood shutdown back in March.

Back in business: Marvel Studios is preparing to kick off production on the Black Panther sequel next July in Atlanta, after the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman in August, as well as the Hollywood shutdown back in March

Gone too soon: Boseman's untimely passing at age 43 left Marvel and writer/director Ryan Coogler navigating grief and how to move forward (pictured in February, 2018)

Gone too soon: Boseman’s untimely passing at age 43 left Marvel and writer/director Ryan Coogler navigating grief and how to move forward (pictured in February, 2018)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the sequel was originally intended to begin production in March of next year. 

But Boseman’s untimely passing at age 43 left Marvel and writer/director Ryan Coogler navigating grief and how to move forward.

The shoot is set to last upward of six months, with Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Angela Bassett returning.

Wright’s character Shuri is rumored to be taking on a larger role, after fans urged the studio to have her don the Black Panther costume as the superhero’s successor.

Production delay: According to The Hollywood Reporter, the sequel was originally intended to begin production in March of next year

Production delay: According to The Hollywood Reporter, the sequel was originally intended to begin production in March of next year

Returning characters: The shoot is set to last upward of six months, with Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Angela Bassett returning

Returning characters: The shoot is set to last upward of six months, with Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Angela Bassett returning

New hero? Wright's character Shuri is rumored to be taking on a larger role, after fans urged the studio to have her don the Black Panther costume as the superhero's successor

New hero? Wright’s character Shuri is rumored to be taking on a larger role, after fans urged the studio to have her don the Black Panther costume as the superhero’s successor

Retiring the character: Although Marvel has not revealed how they plan to move forward with the story, they have indicated that they don't intend to include the late Boseman via CGI

Retiring the character: Although Marvel has not revealed how they plan to move forward with the story, they have indicated that they don’t intend to include the late Boseman via CGI

Although Marvel has not revealed how they plan to move forward with the story, they have indicated that they don’t intend to include the late Boseman via CGI.

The news of the new production date comes with the announcement that Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta (Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico) is in talks to join the new installment as the main antagonist.

As Black Panther 2 is one of the first of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4 films to go into production, amid the massive COVID-related delays, the studio is preparing for 2021 to be its busiest year, with their push into TV.

A source told THR that Marvel President Kevin Feige and executives are focusing mostly on the multiple Disney+ series: ‘The series are the priority. Ramping them up takes a lot of focus. The movie machinery is well established.’

In March, they’re beginning production on their shows She-Hulk (starring Tatiana Maslany) and Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight.

Meanwhile, the WandaVision spin-off starring Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany’s Vision hits the streaming platform January 15.

Movies to TV: Meanwhile, the WandaVision spin-off starring Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany's Vision hits Disney+ on January 15

Movies to TV: Meanwhile, the WandaVision spin-off starring Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany’s Vision hits Disney+ on January 15 

Finishing up: The studio is working to complete production on Loki and Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which began before the lockdown in March

Finishing up: The studio is working to complete production on Loki and Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which began before the lockdown in March

Back to work: On the feature side, Spider-Man 3 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have begun filming

Back to work: On the feature side, Spider-Man 3 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have begun filming

The studio is working to complete production on Loki and Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which began before the lockdown in March.

They also recently kicked off production in Atlanta on Ms. Marvel, starring newcomer Iman Vellani. 

On the feature side, Spider-Man 3 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness have begun filming.

And Taika Waititi’s sequel Thor: Love and Thunder is set to begin production in Australia in January, with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the new Ant-Man film starting production in 2021. 

Marvel Studios has made 23 movies in 12 years, raking in $22.55billion globally, with its wildly successful intersecting stories.

Black Panther became the franchise’s highest grossing solo film in 2018, making $1.35billion worldwide, thanks to its long-overdue Black representation. 

Massive success: Black Panther became the franchise's highest grossing solo film in 2018, making $1.35billion worldwide, thanks to its long-overdue Black representation

Massive success: Black Panther became the franchise’s highest grossing solo film in 2018, making $1.35billion worldwide, thanks to its long-overdue Black representation