Is it possible to be heartbroken and totally pumped at the same time?
When Chadwick Boseman passed away in August 2020, it was a shock to fans everywhere. Of course, it was also a blow to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Boseman had kept his cancer diagnosis private; not even the screenwriter and director of Black Panther, Ryan Coogler, knew about it. Upon Boseman’s passing, he had to start his script for the sequel from scratch. But these details about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever prove Coogler and the franchise series have found a way forward.
The average comics fan might not understand why losing Boseman would be a big deal to Marvel. Superheroes change identities the way most people change outfits. The films change lead actors just as quickly, sometimes leading to multiple actors playing different versions of the same characters simultaneously. But Boseman’s performance was groundbreaking, and his character, King T’Challa, was closely identified to him. Moreover, the tragic and sudden nature of his passing made the role a pair of shoes no Black actor would want to step into right away. Whoever took the part next would be measured against Boseman’s performance and would be found lacking simply for not being Boseman. Marvel could eventually recast the character, but not immediately.
But the show would have to go on. And from all the details from Marvel’s debut of the trailer, it seems Coogler found a way to make it work. Here’s everything to know about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Plot
Details for Black Panther’s sequel were kept tightly under wraps even before the film needed to reconfigure itself around Boseman’s passing. The official synopsis, according to Marvel.com, also gave little away. However, with the release of the second trailer came the film’s first official logline.
To summarize, the new film begins with Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye, and the Dora Milaje fighting to protect Wakanda from world powers bent on intervening now that T’Challa has passed. But other countries are just the tip of the iceberg, as the underwater kingdom of Talocan also has eyes on Wakanda, and it will take everyone, including Nakia and Everett Ross, to ensure the country’s continued survival.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Theories
Then there’s that ending to the first trailer, which has the entire fandom in an uproar, asking the same question: “Whose butt is that?”
The going theory is that Michael B. Jordan’s claims that he does not appear in the film aren’t valid, and Killmonger will make a reappearance. But how one might ask? If his body was thrown into the sea, Namor could have found it and... resurrected him? Zombiefied him? Maybe these seem far-fetched, but the gold suit was Killmonger’s... There are also theories Namor is in the suit, having taken it from Killmonger’s body, which seems more likely.
But not every theory is so concerning. Some wonder if the birthing scene is Nakia, and that’s T’Challa’s child being born. Would Nakia take up the suit in his absence until their child is of age? Could Romana saying Shuri is “gone” in the first trailer mean Namor kidnaped her daughter, and she’s escaped and returned in the suit to save Wakanda? (Heck, could it be Romana taking up the mantle?)
More posterior reporting to come.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Release Date
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was initially planned to arrive in Marvel’s preeminent May debut slot. But the passing of Boseman delayed the original January 2021 filming start date, bumping the premiere first to July and then back again to the fall.
The new finalized premiere date is now for the awards season corridor spot of November 11, 2022.
The first Black Panther movie is streaming on Disney+.
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