A lot has been said about Marvel’s plans for Black Panther 3 as of late, but Lupita Nyong’o isn’t giving it her energy.

The Oscar winner behind the Marvel role of Nakia comments to Entertainment Weekly‘s The Awardist podcast on both a potential Denzel Washington role in the third film entry and the recasting rumor around the late Chadwick Boseman. After this interview was conducted, Marvel producer Nate Moore threw cold water on that latter hot-button topic.

First, in a November interview for Gladiator II, Washington mentioned that writer-director Ryan Coogler is “writing a part for me in the next Black Panther.” Coogler directed and wrote the previous two films, 2018’s flagship movie and 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. He’s also developing the animated series Eyes of Wakanda for Disney+.

Nyong’o appeared on EW’s The Awardist while making the awards season rounds for animated film The Wild Robot. “Well, I won’t believe it until I hear it from Ryan himself, because what if Denzel has a role and I don’t?” she told podcast host Gerrad Hall. “Let me stay humble and ignorant until the leader of the pack actually says something.”

Nyong’o appeared in the previous two Black Panther films, and the ending of the most recent seemed to solidify her importance to the future of those films. So something tells us she definitely has a role.

Speaking separately with EW while promoting Captain America: Brave New World, Moore recalled seeing that Washington interview. “I know Ryan was like, ‘Well, what is he saying?'” the producer said. “We should be so lucky to have Denzel in the MCU. But until we figure out what that movie is, again, nothing is guaranteed. But if you’re asking me would I love to have Denzel in Black Panther 3, obviously that guy, he is a legend.”

Then, in January of this year, The InSneider reported Marvel was considering recasting the role of T’Challa, after previously saying they would not recast Boseman’s part following his death. Wakanda Forever incorporated the death of T’Challa into the story. Moore told EW, “We don’t know what the story is, so I couldn’t tell you whether or not we’re open to recasting. It certainly wasn’t our instinct for Wakanda Forever. I’ll never say never to anything, but it’s too early to talk about any of that stuff. We have to figure out what the story’s going to be.”

Asked about that topic on The Awardist, she says, “Honestly, I do not put any energy into trying to imagine a future that I have no control of. So we’ll see. And when we know more, we’ll know more.”
Listen to the full Awardist episode above or wherever you listen to podcasts.