Killmonger may have chosen death over bondage in Black Panther, but a new report suggests he will return in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with an entirely new role.
According to a report by ScreenGeek, Killmonger will return for Wakanda Forever in the Ancestral Plane, serving as a mentor to a "young hero."
Although the report does not explain who the young hero is, fans have created theories based on the location of Killmonger's reunion. The Ancestral Plane is a different dimension, where souls are able to exist outside of their bodies after death in Wakandan folklore. In Black Panther, both T'Challa and Killmonger were able to visit their deceased fathers in the Ancestral Plane after eating the heart-shaped herb and being buried in ritualistic sand. As such, some fans believe he will likely make an appearance for one of his relatives and potentially a new Black Panther.
After the passing of Chadwick Boseman, Marvel Studios announced it will not recast T'Challa in the upcoming sequel. This has sparked rumors that the studio will find a new Black Panther, with many assuming the mantle will be passed on to his sister Shuri. Others believe it may be Nakia and Okoye.
Since Shuri is Killmonger's cousin, she could potentially see him in the Ancestral Plane if she actually partakes in the Black Panther ritual. Shuri also fits the description of a "young hero" who could potentially seek Killmonger's mentorship after seeing a divided Wakanda fight each other on how to position the nation amongst the rest of the world.
Although the report has yet to be confirmed by other outlets, it falls in line with other reports and rumors suggesting Michael B. Jordan will return to play Killmonger once again. In 2019, Angela Bassett spoke about Wakanda Forever at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and revealed that everyone would be back, with her husband Courtney B. Vance calling out Jordan. Bassett also noted that no one actually saw Killmonger go into the ocean.
Wakanda Forever started filming in June but went on hiatus in November due to an injury Letitia Wright sustained on the set. Production is expected to resume in January 2022 with Wright back on set.
Directed and co-written by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is slated to release on Nov. 11, 2022.
Source: ScreenGeek