UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has joined the cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in an undisclosed role.
Reported by MMA Fighting, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier revealed Usman's involvement in the upcoming Black Panther sequel during the UFC 277 weigh-in show. While it is said that Usman has a guest role in the film, it is unknown who exactly he is playing as of writing.
Usman's role is not the only mystery casting for the film. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to be a heartfelt tribute to the late Black Panther (2018) star Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in 2020 after portraying the hero T'Challa across four Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Released during Marvel Studios' Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, the official trailer for Wakanda Forever shows that T'Challa is now dead in the MCU, and that someone else has put on the Vibranium suit as his heroic successor.
Who this successor is remains a mystery though. Many theories are circulating about who the next Black Panther will be, with speculated choices including Shuri (Letitia Wright), Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), M'Baku (Winston Duke) and a resurrected Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan).
In addition to an appearance by Usman and a new Black Panther, Wakanda Forever will debut two major players to the MCU. The first is Namor the Submariner, a king of an underwater kingdom and rival of Black Panther's in Marvel Comics, who will be portrayed by actor Tenoch Huerta. The other is Riri Williams aka Ironheart, played by actor Dominique Thorne in the film.
While future projects with Namor have not been announced as of writing, Thorne is set to reprise her role as Riri in an Ironheart series on Disney+. In comics, Riri becomes the hero Ironheart during a time when Iron Man Tony Stark is stuck in a coma, building her own version of the Armored Avenger's super suit. A Funko Pop! figure of Ironheart for Wakanda Forever gives fans their first full look at Riri's MK1 armor, which looks quite different from her comic book attire, appearing more as an unfinished exoskeleton as opposed to her full body armor.
Aside from Usman, Huerta and Thorne's new characters, Wakanda Forever also sees the return of Shuri, Ramonda, M'Baku and CIA agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman). Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters Nov. 11, 2022.
Source: MMA Fighting