“Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman has passed away after a four-year battle with colon cancer.
“It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman,” his publicist said in a statement, per The New York Times.
Boseman was diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer in 2016. He never spoke publicly about his diagnosis, Variety reported, going on to play iconic roles like Thurgood Marshall in 2017’s “Marshall” and T’Challa in “Black Panther.”
During Boseman’s four-year battle, the cancer progressed to Stage IV, according to a statement released on his Twitter account.
The 43-year-old actor reportedly passed away at his home, surrounded by his wife and family on Aug. 28. Boseman, who in 2013 played Jackie Robinson in “42,” died on the day the MLB was honoring Jackie Robinson Day, according to Yahoo Sports!
“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From ‘Marshall’ to ‘Da 5 Bloods,’ August Wilson’s ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy.”
Social media immediately raised questions about what this might mean for the future of “Black Panther” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.