Marvel Studios' Head of Streaming, Television and Animation, Brad Winderbaum, has revealed that Marvel’sBlack Pantherspinoff, previously reported to be a Disney+ series centered on Danai Gurira’s Okoye, is no longer going ahead. Danai Gurira debuted in theMCUas Okoye, the General of Wakanda’s Dora Milaje, in 2018’sBlack Panther. She returned forInfinity War, Endgameand 2022’sBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, and was set up to star in her own spinoff series on Disney+, butOkoye’s MCU futurehas now become less clear.
During the press junket for March 2025’sDaredevil: Born Again, Brad Winderbaum spoke toPay or Waitand revealed that,while Okoye will be returning to the MCU at some point, this will not be in an MCU TV series. Adrama series set in Wakandawas first reported to be in development in February 2021, and Gurira had signed on to return as Okoye. Gurira confirmed these discussions in 2023, but Winderbaum’s new comments suggest that Okoye’s MCU future is not as the lead in her ownBlack Pantherspinoff series.
I love Okoye, I think fans of Okoye are gonna be excited to see her come back, but I don’t think it’s gonna be in a television show. I can’t say where and when, but I think there’s a lot to look forward to.
Okoye’s Future In The MCU Has Become Less Clear
Okoye will not be featured as the star of her own small-screen MCU project, but this doesn’t mean her time in the MCU is done. Ryan Coogler has been confirmed to currently be working ondevelopment forBlack Panther 3, which will likely include Danai Gurira’s Okoye continuing her career as one of Wakanda’s Midnight Angels, alongside Michaela Coel’s Aneka.Coogler’s work onBlack Panther 3may mean he has little time to simultaneously develop a series for Okoye, though the door may be open for this to happen after the sequel’s release.
2018
2019
2022
Black Panther 3
TBD
Marvel Studios' production of its TV shows for Disney+ has recently been through an epic creative overhaul, and the entire direction of the MCU has been shifted after recent criticisms and controversies. Several shows that were previously in development, such asNova, Terror Inc.and aStrange Academyseries, have now been shelved, and Okoye’s spinoff has joined them.Marvel Animation’sEyes of Wakandaseries will still expand the world of Wakanda in August 2025, but Okoye will have to wait untilBlack Panther 3to return to our screens.
It’s a huge shame that Danai Gurira won’t be leading her own TV series in the MCU, at least for the foreseeable future. Gurira has proven her ability to headline a series as Michonne inThe Walking Dead, and is one of the most popular,fan-favorite characters in theBlack Pantherfranchise, so she was the perfect candidate to star in her own show.Brad Winderbaum’s comments all but confirm that Okoye will be returning, which is some good news. Even so, Okoye’sBlack Pantherspinoff being canceled could spell bad news for the captivating hero.
