The likelihood of Black Panther Disney+ Series Season 2 has dropped significantly due to a major setback in production. Specifically, Scotland-based Axis Studios, which has now officially shut down and filed for bankruptcy, created the animated series Eyes of Wakanda. As a result, this unexpected closure has left Marvel fans wondering about the future of the Wakandan storyline on Disney+.
Studio Closure Causes Major Setback for Black Panther Disney+ Series
Axis Studios’ collapse stemmed from multiple challenges. Specifically, the studio faced a combination of financial, operational, and external pressures:
- The “one-two punch of the pandemic followed by the Hollywood strikes.”
- The impact of inflation on profits.
- Internal workflow issues, including developing a small number of projects at once, which created “cashflow pressures” while awaiting “large completion payments” and led to “significant gaps [arising] between commissions.”
- Reported “severe cash flow problems” leading to 162 layoffs.
These financial and operational difficulties raise doubts about whether the studio can continue delivering high-quality animation for a second season.
Eyes of Wakanda Reception Divides Critics and Fans
Eyes of Wakanda experienced a mixed reception, reflecting a clear divide between critics and viewers:
- Critics scored it 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Audiences scored it 52% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Showrunner Todd Harris emphasized the creative potential of the series, stating:
“there are always more stories” to tell and the team “definitely have more in the tank.”
This statement clearly suggests that the team could continue the story, further highlighting that Wakanda’s narrative world remains far from fully explored.
Marvel Studios Could Still Save Black Panther Disney+ Series
Even though Axis Studios has closed, Marvel Studios still has the option to continue Season 2 by hiring a new animation studio. Yet, several factors make renewing the series challenging:
- The series “failed to make much of a splash” with general audiences.
- Marvel Studios is “tightening up its Disney+ output, reducing the number of shows in development.”
Despite these obstacles, the early MCU timeline contains “endless stories left to be told,” giving Marvel room to explore future creative opportunities.
Production Deal and Future of Wakandan Projects
Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media produced Eyes of Wakanda under a five-year exclusive deal signed in February 2021. However, the deal will expire next year, and it remains uncertain whether Marvel will renew it. In the meantime, Ryan Coogler is fully focusing on Black Panther 3, set for release in 2028. Currently, there are no confirmed Disney+ Wakandan projects beyond Eyes of Wakanda. Nevertheless, fans remain hopeful that Marvel may announce new Wakanda-related content in the near future.
The studio closure has naturally sparked concern among fans of the Black Panther franchise, since Disney+ may need to reevaluate its animated content strategy. However, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe continuing to expand, there is still hope that Wakanda’s rich lore will find new life, either through alternative animation studios or other MCU-linked projects.
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