The following contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, now in theaters.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally arrived four years after the original. The highly anticipated follow-up was tasked with addressing the death of lead actor Chadwick Boseman while still delivering a satisfying sequel to the only Marvel film ever to be nominated for Best Picture. While the reviews are not as noteworthy as the original, fans have largely supported the film, as shown by its significant box office numbers.
The previous film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor: Love and Thunder, received mixed reviews, as did the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law show, which was released between both films. Marvel's Special Presentation Werewolf by Night, however, did seem to please critics. Nevertheless, as the final film in Phase Four of the MCU, hopes were high that Wakanda Forever would serve as a return to form for the franchise.
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The Cast and Crew of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has returned, once again co-writing the script alongside Joe Robert Cole. In the absence of Chadwick Boseman, who played the titular figure in the original film, the focus has shifted to his sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, who eventually takes up the mantle. Assisting her are Danai Gurira's Okoye, the leader of the Dora Milaje, and Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia, who moved to Haiti to be a school teacher after Thanos' Snap. Winston Duke returns as M'Baku, leader of the Jabari Tribe, as does Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda and Florence Kasumba as the Dora Milaje warrior Ayo.
Tenoch Huerta also makes a splash as the aquatic antagonist and anti-hero Namor. He is assisted by Alex Livinalli as Attuma and Mabel Cadena as Namora. Martin Freeman makes a brief appearance reprising his role as Everett Ross alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Joining the star-studded cast are Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, and Michaela Coel as a new member of the Dora Milaje named Aneka. Richard Schiff and Gigi Bermingham appear in a UN sequence as the U.S. and French Secretaries of State, respectively. In the after-credits sequence, Divine Love Konadu-Sun is revealed as Prince T'Challa, who will no doubt play a large role in the MCU moving forward. The largest cameo, however, is Michael B. Jordan's reprisal of his role as Erik Killmonger in the Ancestral Plane.
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The Plot of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever directly addresses the loss of T'Challa as the characters work through their grief and newfound roles after his passing. His sister, Shuri, refuses to move on and, blaming herself for his death, becomes disillusioned with the world around her. Wakanda itself remains on unsteady ground as the citizens struggle to maintain their independence on the world stage as foreign governments try to infiltrate their vibranium reserves.
Namor's kingdom of Talokan is also made of vibranium, and when MIT student Riri Williams builds a machine that can detect vibranium underwater, he demands that Wakanda bring her to him for their mutual benefit. Opting to protect her, they risk Namor's wrath, which leads him to attack Wakanda and murder Queen Ramonda. In her grief, Shuri is forced to make imperative decisions regarding Wakanda's conflict with Namor, her own desire for vengeance and the future of the Black Panther.
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Easter Eggs and References in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The surprise appearance of Director Fontaine within the film revealed potential key details about the forthcoming Thunderbolts movie. Previously, Fontaine appeared in Black Widow and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to recruit Yelena Belova and John Walker, seemingly for the Thunderbolts team. She is confirmed to have recently taken on the role of Director of the CIA. This means that each of the figures she has recruited may work for the government in a Suicide Squad-style arrangement, especially since each of the confirmed figures in the lineup has a questionable past.
The introduction of Ironheart also allowed audiences to get situated with Riri Williams before her solo Disney+ show, which will be released next year. At the end of the film, she leaves her armor behind in Wakanda, meaning she will somehow have to retrieve it in the show or build a separate suit. Either way, some figures from Wakanda will likely appear in the series. Additionally, Shuri's choice to take on the mantle of the Black Panther means that there will continue to be a protective figure for Wakanda who will likely play a major role in the upcoming Avengers films. However, the shocking mid-credits sequence also revealed that T'Challa and Nakia had a son, who they named T'Challa II and who will likely become the Black Panther at some point in the MCU's future.
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Fan Theories and Rumors
One of the major fan theories involved the appearance of the villainous Doctor Doom, who is a major player in the Secret Wars storyline. He was originally suspected to be the main antagonist in Wakanda Forever before Namor was confirmed. Due to the positioning of the film as a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, his introduction in a post-credits scene would have felt slightly disingenuous. Although he failed to materialize in the film, he will likely be introduced shortly if he plays a similar role to his comic book counterpart in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars film.
On the other hand, Erik Killmonger made an appearance in the Ancestral Plane after endless fan speculation, encouraging Shuri to avenge her mother by killing Namor. Shuri herself was surprised to meet him, but Killmonger explained that she subconsciously selected him due to the similarities in their desire for vengeance. The mid-credits reveal of Prince T'Challa II was also a shocking revelation that has now been rumored to hint at a future Young Avengers or Next Avengers project.
Needless to say, plenty of substantial events occur or are hinted at within Wakanda Forever's nearly three-hour runtime. However, audiences and critics alike have also applauded its strong focus on honoring Boseman. Although it likely will not screen in China due to censors, the sequel had the third biggest opening night of the year and currently holds the title of the most expensive film starring a Black lead. To witness this moving and epic tribute, watch Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in theaters now.
