Summary
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever released in November 2022, but many questions from the Phase 4 film have still gone unanswered.
- Shuri’s future as the MCU’s Black Panther, Namor’s next steps in the MCU, M’Baku’s potential ascension to King of Wakanda, and the teased attack on Wakanda by the United States all have yet to be resolved.
- Black Panther 3 hasn’t yet been confirmed, and the status of Ryan Coogler’s MCU Wakanda series is unclear, so the continuation of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s story is still unknown.
There are still several unanswered questions concerning Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, even a year after the movie was released as part of Phase 4 of the MCU. The sequel to Ryan Coogler’s 2018 smash-hit Black Panther hit theaters on November 11, 2022, acting as the final project in the MCU’s Phase 4, and bidding farewell to the late Chadwick Boseman, who passed away suddenly in August 2020. Boseman debuted as T’Challa, a.k.a. the Black Panther, in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, and was set to be a major fixture in the MCU’s future, but his passing meant that a new hero needed to step up in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
While Black Panther: Wakanda Forever dealt heavily with the grief felt by the cast for Boseman’s passing, and the characters in-universe who lost their King T’Challa, the 2022 film also saw Letitia Wright’s Shuri become the MCU’s new Black Panther. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also introduced Tenoch Huerta to the MCU as Namor, the mutant ruler of the underwater city of Talokan, and debuted Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams ahead of her solo adventure in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Ironheart series. Despite featuring major reveals, many questions have remained unanswered for the last year, giving audiences no clear insight into what the next steps are for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s story.
10 Black Panther 3 Theories We Already Hope Come True
Black Panther 3 hasn’t yet been confirmed to be in development, but there are already several theories about what could happen in the MCU sequel.
10 Will Shuri Remain The MCU’s Black Panther?
Shuri Became The Black Panther After T’Challa’s Death
After T’Challa lost his life to an undisclosed illness in the opening moments of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri’s grief brought a stop to her attempts at creating a synthetic heart-shaped herb. However, after altercations with Namor and the death of her mother, Queen Ramonda, Shuri used a vibranium bracelet gifted to her by Namor to perfect her heart-shaped herb design, and it was successful in enhancing her into the new Black Panther. It’s safe to say that Shuri didn’t exactly want to become the Black Panther, so it’s unclear whether she will continue in the role following Wakanda Forever, though it’s likely she will throughout the MCU’s Multiverse Saga.
Shuri needed to create a synthetic heart-shaped herb in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as Killmonger had all the natural heart-shaped herbs burned after his crowning as King of Wakanda and Black Panther in the original 2018 film.
9 How Will Namor Fit Into The Wider MCU?
Namor & Talokan Haven’t Been Mentioned Since Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Namor was one of the most exciting additions to the MCU’s Phase 4, as he debuted as the first chronological mutant in the MCU, having been born in the 1500s. Namor was one of Marvel Comics’ first published superheroes, but no further appearances from the MCU’s Feathered Serpent God have yet been announced. Sexual assault allegations were brought against Tenoch Huerta in June 2023, bearing similarities to controversies surrounding Jonathan Majors’ arrest, yet Marvel Studios hasn’t officially commented on either case. Namor was previously teased to be confirmed for 2026’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but with the Phase 6 project undergoing rewrites, it’s unclear what the future holds for Namor.
8 What Will Happen To Prince T’Challa?
Prince T’Challa Could Continue His Father’s Legacy
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever featured only one post-credits scene, which introduced Divine Love Konadu-Sun to the MCU as T’Challa and Nakia’s son Toussaint, a.k.a. Prince T’Challa. Prince T’Challa’s debut came as a huge shock to MCU audiences, and raised questions about whether he would eventually follow in his father’s footsteps to become the King of Wakanda and the Black Panther in the MCU’s future. A year after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s release, however, Toussaint still hasn’t been seen or mentioned again, though with recent teases hinting at the formation of the MCU’s Young Avengers, there are suspicions he could be included on the young superhero team.
2023’s The Marvels saw Kamala Khan approach Kate Bishop with a proposition of bringing together their own team of young heroes, also mentioning Ant-Man’s daughter Cassie Lang, as the Young Avengers. Several Young Avengers members have been introduced to the MCU in recent years, so it may not be too long before this team is finally coming together.
7 Does M’Baku Become King Of Wakanda?
M’Baku Challenged For The Wakandan Throne
After both T’Challa and Ramonda’s deaths in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri is next in line for the throne of Wakanda, but the end of the Phase 4 film seemed to suggest a different character would become the African nation’s new ruler. Winston Duke’s M’Baku has gone from enigmatic enemy in 2018’s Black Panther to one of Wakanda’s fiercest warriors and protectors in Avengers: Infinity War, and Shuri’s close confidant in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In the final moments of Wakanda Forever, M’Baku appeared at Shuri’s crowning ceremony in her place, implying he would become King of Wakanda, but his new role hasn’t yet been confirmed.
6 What Is Next For Everett Ross?
Okoye Broke Everett Ross Free From CIA Captivity
After debuting as CIA agent and Deputy Task Force Commander for the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre in Captain America: Civil War, Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross became a key fixture in the MCU’s Black Panther franchise. After helping the Wakandans deal with their Killmonger threat in Black Panther, Ross continued to aid Wakanda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, though his actions saw him arrested by his ex-wife, CIA Director Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. At the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, however, Ross was freed by Okoye. Everett Ross appeared in Secret Invasion, but was revealed to be a Skrull in disguise, so the real Ross’ whereabouts are still unknown.
5 Are Okoye & Aneka Still Midnight Angels?
The Midnight Angels Have More Power Than The Dora Milaje
Until Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the Dora Milaje comprised Wakanda’s most formidable warriors, led by their General Okoye, portrayed be Danai Gurira. However, after failing to protect Shuri, Okoye was stripped of her title, but Shuri’s return to Wakanda meant that Okoye was able to sport a new suit of armor as one of the MCU’s Midnight Angels, alongside Michaela Coel’s former Dora Milaje member Aneka. The Midnight Angels’ suits granted them new abilities including flight and added durability, and while they have yet to make further appearances in the MCU, it’s assumed that Okoye and Aneka will continue to operate as the Midnight Angels following Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
4 Will The Thunderbolts Go To War With Wakanda?
Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine Teased An Attack On Wakanda
Julia Louis-Dreyfus debuted as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and made a further appearance in 2021’s Black Widow before Marvel Studios confirmed she would bring together the MCU’s first Thunderbolts team. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever revealed Valentina to be the Director of the CIA, and hinted at her desire to get hold of Wakanda’s vibranium resources. This suggests that the government-funded Thunderbolts could be used to wage war on Wakanda in an effort to win the MCU’s new vibranium race, which could be explored further in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts.
Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is expected to act as the Thunderbolts’ Nick Fury figure, while the team will consist of several reformed villains and antiheroes from the MCU’s past, including Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier, Yelena Belova, Alexei Shostakov’s Red Guardian, Ava Starr’s Ghost, Antonia Dreykov’s Taskmaster, and John Walker’s US Agent.
3 What Is Next For Riri Williams’ Ironheart?
Dominique Thorne Will Return In Her Own Disney+ Series
Ahead of the Phase 5 premiere of Marvel Studios’ Ironheart series, Dominique Thorne debuted as Riri Williams in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Williams was revealed to be a genius MIT student who designed a device capable of tracking vibranium, which was then bought by the CIA and used to inadvertently find Talokan beneath the Atlantic Ocean. Brought to Wakanda for her safety, Williams joined Wakanda Forever’s final battle in a vibranium Ironheart armor, reminiscent of Tony Stark’s Iron Man, but wasn’t able to keep this armor upon her return to the United States. Ironheart doesn’t yet have a scheduled release date, though will catch up with Riri Williams in Chicago.
2 What Will Ryan Coogler’s Wakanda Series Be About?
Ryan Coogler Is Developing A Wakanda-Set Disney+ Series
In February 2021, Ryan Coogler was confirmed to be developing a drama series for Disney+ set in Wakanda, developed through Coogler’s production company Proximity Media. Since then, however, news on the MCU’s Wakanda series has been scarce, aside from Danai Gurira signing a deal to return as Black Panther’s Okoye in the series. Rumors have suggested that Coogler’s series could be an origin story for Okoye, or in fact a series detailing the backstory of Wakanda itself, perhaps even introducing the first Black Panther, Bashenga. There has also been speculation that a separate Okoye series may be developed, so it’s unclear what the actual narrative of Coogler’s Wakanda project will be.
1 Will Black Panther 3 Happen?
Black Panther 3 Hasn’t Yet Been Confirmed
Perhaps the most logical next step for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s story would be in a direct sequel, though Marvel Studios’ Black Panther 3 has yet to be officially confirmed. The end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever promised that “Black Panther will return,” suggesting a sequel is on the cards, though cast and crew have routinely suggested that a break is much-needed, especially since the production of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was such an emotional experience following Chadwick Boseman’s passing. Even though Black Panther 3 hasn’t been confirmed, the huge success of both Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever makes a sequel all but inevitable.
