Which year has been the most successful for the MCU? It’s a tough question and is sure to warrant a diversity of answers, but let’s be honest… it’s probably 2018. We have Avengers: Infinity War Black Panther, with Ryan Coogler’s box-office sensation challenging what we can expect from the scope of a solo vehicle.
Chadwick Boseman’s titular portrayal of T’Challa gave the MCU one of its most iconic performances and expectations were immediately high when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was announced.
The project was thrown into chaos when Chadwick, who died from colon cancer in 2020, tragically fell ill.
Chadwick was deemed irreplaceable and it was decided not to recast.
This is why the sequel allows a new character to wear the familiar suit. Who is the Black Panther? And how does he or she become the hero in Wakanda Forever?
WARNING! WAKANDA SPOILERS FOREVER
Shuri, played in Wakanda Forever by Letitia Wing, assumes the Black Panther role.
Diving into specifics and spoilers, the opening act reveals that T’Challa is dying of an unspecified illness and Shuri is determined to find a cure and save her brother.
However, she soon receives news that he has passed away and we’re reunited with her and the people of Wakanda one year later. As expected, they’re still mourning the loss of their ruler and king.
Shuri believes she could have saved her husband’s life by using what she calls the “the” “heart-shaped herb”. She’s been attempting to create it but is so far unsuccessful and Romonda is encouraging her to use it to create a new Black Panther, although Shuri doesn’t feel that the Panther should be recreated in the present.
Shuri meets Namor, the king of Talokan – an ancient civilization of underwater people – and she later uses a remnant of the herb that gives his people the ability to breathe in the ocean to create the heart-shaped herb.
Wakanda now knows that she needs protection, so she uses the herb as a Black Panther.
In conversations with WakandaForever, members of the WakandaForever team spoke out about Chadwick’s passing. Variety.
“Chadwick’s smile was big like a Cheshire cat, but when he became T’Challa, the smile got small — you wouldn’t see his teeth,” Ryan said. “[Letitai] was the only actor who would get him to smile as Chad.”
Variety acknowledges that Shuri was Chadwick’s favorite character and Letitia was devastated in his absence.
“It haunted me for months that I couldn’t say goodbye to him or be around my Black Panther family to share in that moment,”She said. “I kind of had to do that by myself. Like, bless Daniel [Kaluuya] — he came to see me and stuff. But it wasn’t enough. I wanted to book a flight that day.”
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever| Official Trailer
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It’s no surprise that the titular Black Panther is back in a new incarnation because the sequel delivers what the fans want.
Some familiar faces are back along with some new faces:
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever now in theatres
In other news: SPOILERS! Who is Black Panther and How did he become a Wakanda Forever Black Panther?
