The Black Panther franchise is at risk thanks to the Marvel animation studio going bankrupt.Credit: Marvel StudiosIn a troubling turn of events, the Disney+ Black Panther spinoff Eyes of Wakanda faces an uncertain future. The animated anthology, which explored untold stories across Wakanda’s long and storied history, was among the final projects completed by Axis Studios, a Scotland-based animation company that recently filed for bankruptcy.Axis’s collapse, brought on by pandemic-related disruptions, the Hollywood strikes, inflation, and a business model reliant on long-term client payments, has cast serious doubt on the possibility of a second season. While production on the first season wrapped before the studio’s closure and the series was able to debut as planned, the loss of Axis leaves Marvel and Disney scrambling for a new partner if they wish to continue the story.Credit: Marvel Studios“This is revealed in reports filed by the administrator which was appointed when the company collapsed,” wrote Forbes late last month. “They show that ‘the industry experienced a downturn in production commissions post-pandemic, particularly in the video gaming sector, which comprised the majority of the company’s client base.'”They added: “‘The company was also impacted by the US writer strikes which took place from May to September 2023, and the related actor strike which ran until November 2023. These significantly pushed out production schedules.'”Credit: ABCThe turmoil extends beyond animation. Wakanda’s live-action future is also being reshaped as Marvel Studios recalibrates its larger cinematic universe following an impending franchise-wide reset. Black Panther 3 remains on the studio’s roadmap, with a projected 2028 release date and early development already underway.Yet the film will not merely pick up where Wakanda Forever left off. Instead, Marvel is reportedly weighing multiple creative directions, including reintroducing T’Challa through the Multiverse or allowing his son, Toussaint, to rise as the next Black Panther. This period of transition marks a profound moment for the franchise as it grapples with how to honor Chadwick Boseman’s legacy while ensuring Wakanda’s story continues to evolve.Credit: Marvel StudiosIn Wakanda Forever, Marvel made the deliberate choice not to recast T’Challa, focusing instead on Shuri’s (Letitia Wright) emotional journey and the nation’s response to its loss. Now, as the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe looms, discussions surrounding who will inherit the Black Panther mantle have intensified.Several actors have been rumored to step into the role of a new or alternate T’Challa, though producers have been quick to caution that no official casting or storyline has been confirmed. What’s clear is that Marvel’s creative leadership is keenly aware of the symbolic weight this decision carries, both for fans and for the cultural legacy that Boseman’s portrayal represents.Eyes of Wakanda had seemed poised to expand that legacy in a new way. Its finale, “The Last Panther,” teased a fascinating connection to the films: a future incarnation of the Black Panther traveling back through time to protect Wakanda from a catastrophic fate.Credit: Marvel StudiosThe episode’s closing moments positioned the animated anthology as more than a side project; it was a narrative bridge that could have complemented the live-action saga. But with Axis Studios’ bankruptcy halting production plans, that potential remains in limbo. Without a replacement studio, the series’ future is as uncertain as Wakanda’s own in-universe timeline.Now, both the animated and live-action branches of the Black Panther mythos stand at a crossroads. The collapse of Axis has thrown the Disney+ series into jeopardy, while Marvel’s cinematic arm navigates how to redefine its most culturally significant franchise for a post-Boseman era.Whether through the rebirth of T’Challa, the rise of his son, or a completely new guardian of Wakanda, one thing is certain: when the Black Panther returns to the screen, it will mark not just a continuation–but a reinvention–of one of Marvel’s most powerful stories.How do you feel about these Black Panther franchise developments? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!The post Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ Studio Goes Bankrupt as T’Challa Recast Controversy Grows appeared first on Inside the Magic.