Speculation has swirled and rumors have circulated since the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman, head of the MCU franchises King T’Challa and Black Panther. What fans have been trying to figure out for over two years is who exactly will assume the mantle of Wakanda’s protector after Boseman’s tragic death.
Could it be M’Baku who once laid claim to Wakanda’s throne? Or maybe Nakia, carrying on the Black Panther legacy in honor of her lost love?
The latest trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever featured a decidedly feminine heroine in a vibranium suit, leading many to double down on their belief that it could be T’Challa’s little sister, Shuri, who will take on the role. But according to the stars of the much-anticipated Marvel movie, that may not be the case.
Wakanda Forever Actors Respond To Panther Theories
Wonder
Speaking to Elle, Lupita Nyong’o, who plays Nakia, responded to the rampant speculation that Shuri will take on the mantle of the Black Panther: “We love speculation.”
“You’re not doing everything right!” added co-star Danai Gurira before Nyong’o replied: “No, they didn’t guess at all.”
So could it be that Letitia Wright’s Shuri isn’t the one who will inherit the title from her late brother? Or could there be multiple Black Panthers in the film?
Speaking of Wright, she says of her character “[Shuri has] much more responsibility.” in the upcoming sequel. She adds:
“She has tremendous maturity. It’s literally an art imitating life because I’ve grown up so much myself in the last two years.”
Could one of those additional responsibilities possibly include donning a head-to-toe vibranium suit and protecting their country? It’s hard to say for sure at this point, but the actress was certain that she’d seen a lot of self-improvement through portraying her character.
“She literally taught me how to process emotions. It has been a beautiful journey to share with the women in this project. There is one theme that haunts us: female empowerment, on and off screen.”
Who will become the Black Panther?
In all likelihood, it will indeed be Shuri who takes the call and steps up to the role of the MCU’s new Black Panther, but Marvel Studios always prefers to keep such details very close.
However, there is one camp that subscribes to the idea that there could be more than one panther by the end of the film. Certain shots in the new trailer appear to show a different character wearing a Black Panther costume that differs from the main costume seen in the final shot of the preview.
Or it could just be a misdirection on the part of the studio. After all, this is the same marketing team that in 2019 under no circumstances refused to reveal the secrets of Avengers: Endgame.
Whatever the case, all will be revealed when Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the final film in Phase 4 of the MCU, hits theaters on November 11.