TheBlack Panther-based seriesEyes of Wakandais being told in animation for a very specific reason, according to the series creators. Set to debut on June 16, 2025,Eyes of Wakandawill be a four-part animated series that follows Wakandan warriors known as The Hatut Zaraze throughout history as they carry out dangerous missions around the globe to retrieve vibranium artifacts. Unlike past Marvel animated series likeWhat If…?,X-Men ‘97, orYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,Eyes of Wakandawill be the first animated MCU project taking place within the MCU’s Sacred Timeline and is thus canon to the events of the films and other Disney+ shows.
Eyes of Wakandashowrunner and series creator Todd Harris spoke withComicBook.comand revealed why the Black Panther spin-off series was done in animation as opposed to live-action like the rest of the Sacred Timeline set MCU shows. It appears it was a budgetary reason, as with animation, the series creators could truly explore any location without worrying about location traveling or set decoration. The only limit was the animation of the artist involved. Harris said:
“Animation is the ultimate equalizer of locations. Egypt costs just as much as New York City, and the moon costs just as much as Ohio. Filming around the globe has inherent limitations that we just don’t have in animation. That freedom allowed us to reimagine an idealized version of an era that’s unaffected by human history.”
Eyes of Wakandawas first announced on July 25, 2025, as Ryan Coogler’s production company Proximity Media signed an exclusive five-year first-look deal with Disney television. The first project announced was an untitled Disney+ series set in Wakanda, but no further details were given at the time. Many assumed it would be a live-action series due to the likes ofWandaVisionairing on Disney+ at the time, andThe Falcon and the Winter SoldierandLokibeing on the horizon later that year. WhileBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreverseemingly teased a few potential live-action series’, possibly around the Midnight Angels, the animatedEyes of Wakandawas later announced in December 2023.
The Legacy of the Black Panther in the MCU
Eyes of Wakanda’s decision to tell its story in animation is smart, as the series can take viewers to vast locations across time without worrying about adjusting its story to account for the budget. The MCU Disney+ series has gained a reputation forhaving highly high budgets. Unlike a feature film, however, the series doesn’t have box office revenue to help make back its cost.
Moon Knightreportedly cost $147 million, whileSecret Invasion’sbudget ballooned to $212 million due to numerous rewrites and heavy VFX series likeShe-Hulk: Attorney at LawandWandaVisionreportedly cost $225 million. WithEyes of Wakandaseemingly taking place across different time periods with unique locations, in live-action, it likely would have been one of the MCU’s most costly shows, so animation was the right call.
Rumored Recast of “Irreplaceable” Black Panther Favorite Will Have Fans Divided
There are several MCU character that have been recast, but this is one that seemed unlikely to ever happen.
Following the record-breaking success and critical acclaim thatBlack Pantherreceived in 2018, the MCU seemed to make both King T’Challa and the world of Wakanda a big focus in the MCU, with later reports implying that Marvel Studios was looking at Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, and Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers to be the new lead faces of the franchise in Phase 4.Unfortunately, Chadwick Boseman passed awayfrom colon cancer on July 31, 2025, at the age of 43.
Marvel Studios decided not to recast T’Challa, withBlack Panther: Wakanda Forevertackling the issues of T’Challa’s death within the MCU as his sister Shuri becomes the new Black Panther. Eyes of Wakandais a way for Marvel Studios to explore more of Wakanda’s culture and history in the absence of T’Challa, which further fleshes out the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that can pay off in future live-action projects.
