The high-impact release of 2018’s Black Panther made one thing crystal clear: the MCU would return to Wakanda before long. At this point, T’Challa already had slated appearances in that year’s Avengers: Infinity War and its 2019 follow-up Endgame; but his standalone feature whetted appetites for more stories about the African royal and hero. Thus, Marvel Studios immediately set the gears in motion for a second Black Panther feature, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Here’s everything we know about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever so far.
Title
The title of the second Black Panther film is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s Plot
The film’s trailer reveals that the nation is morning the death of King T’Challa. This turns of events is a heartbreaking reflection of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman died after a longstanding battle with colon cancer. Kevin Feige previously said that T’Challa would not be recast. Shuri, Nakia, and the Wakandans are facing a new threat from Namor, the ruler of Atlantis.
In the movie’s most recent look, we get an even better look at Namor and our new Black Panther, as well as the rest of our cast of characters. Every trailer is more emotional than the next.
Namor, Shuri, and Ironheart especially come into sharp focus in the film’s second trailer.
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever plot synopsis reveals:
In Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livanalli.
In new production notes, Marvel Studios has explained more about how Wakanda Forever begins and what its timeline looks like. Per IGN, director Ryan Coogler explains:
Ramonda realizes that it’s been a year since T’Challa’s passing and Shuri’s still not healing—she’s not taking steps to move forward in a healthy way. They take a retreat—stepping away from the city, from the technology—to sit with no distractions and perform what is essentially a grief ritual. That’s when Namor shows up.
Our hearts are breaking already. Additionally, a new featurette takes us deeper into the world of Black Panther 2. It highlights the presence of Chadwick Boseman in the movie and also all the new worlds and characters we’ll meet.
Behind the Scenes
Ryan Coogler, director of the first Black Panther movie, will write and direct Black Panther 2. Autumn Durald Arkapaw will be the film’s cinematographer and Ludwig Göransson will return to compose the film’s score.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s Cast
The following Black Panther stars would revive their roles in the sequel: Letitia Wright (Shuri), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Angela Bassett (Ramonda), and Martin Freeman (Everett Ross). In November 2020, The Hollywood Reporter teased the possibility of Tenoch Huerta joining the cast as the story’s villain. And we found out during the film’s San Diego Comic-Con panel that this news is true! Tenoch Huerta is playing the aforementioned Namor.
Variety previously reported Michaela Coel (I May Destroy You) joined the cast. She is now confirmed to be playing Aneka, who was a combat instructor for the Dora Milaje in the comics. Also, Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) will make her live-action debut in the film as Ironheart.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s Release Date
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit theaters on November 11, 2022.
This piece was originally published on April 14, 2021.