Marvel has released few details about its upcoming sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; however, a new leak confirmed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) as one of the sequel's filming locations.
While filming for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at MIT has been rumored for a while now, Inverse reported that the Marvel sequel will shoot on campus between Aug. 20 and Aug. 23. The sequences to be shot reportedly include multiple overnight driving scenes and one daytime scene.
Most of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is being shot in Atlanta, GA, and while it's not unusual for Marvel to film at college campuses, the fact that the production is transplanting all the way to Cambridge, MA does suggest that the prestigious research university will factor into the sequel's plot. However, the quick turnaround also suggests that the college's role may be a minor one. Some have speculated that Shuri may be visiting MIT to showcase Wakandan technology.
MIT already has several connections to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For example, Erik Killmonger, the antagonist in the first Black Panther film, received his Ph.D. in engineering from the university in the comics. Similarly, Tony Stark graduated from MIT and returned to his alma mater in Captain America: Civil War to show off his B.A.R.F. technology and launch the September Foundation scholarship.
Moreover, there is a connection between MIT and Riri Williams/Ironheart. Riri is a student at MIT in the comics and her future inclusion in the MCU has already been confirmed. She'll be appearing in her own Disney+ series and will be played by Dominique Thorne. Some fans have theorized that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will mark the first official MCU appearance for the character.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is directed by Ryan Coogler and is currently scheduled for release on July 8, 2022.
Source: Inverse