The makers of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the sequel to Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther,” faced trials after the death of the film’s leading man, Chadwick Boseman. After years of planning, Marvel fans and creators wondered how the sequel would be created.
Boseman was first cast as Prince T’Challa for “Captain America: Civil War” in 2017 and got his own movie in 2018. “Black Panther” grossed $1.3 billion at the box office. Boseman also played the character of Black Panther for “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.”
In “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Angela Bassett returns as Queen Ramonda, Danai Gurira as General Okoye, and Letitia Wright playing T’Challa’s sister, Shuri.
Wright does an outstanding job taking on the mantle of Princess Shuri. Shuri tries to cope with the loss of her brother and is unsure how the people of Wakanda will be safe without the protection of T’Challa.
As some may know from the first film, to have the power of Black Panther an herb must be consumed where it sends one into the ancestral realm to find purpose and meaning of what it means to be the protector.
Shuri is unsure of how she can be the protector due to the power of the herbs being destroyed in the first film. She believed that the Black Panther died with T’Challa, until a new threat emerged from the depths of the sea … literally.
Tenoch Huerta, who plays the long-awaited antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Namor, is seen through a series of Marvel comics as a king of Atlantis who is willing to overthrow governments to take over the world.
Huerta’s character scavenges the oceans for vibranium, an element in MCU that is used for weapons and shielding to create a new rule over the world. Shuri questions his tactics because the element of vibranium can only be found in the kingdom of Wakanda. Huerta plays a menacing character who will do whatever it takes to get what he wants from Wakandans.
Lupita Nyong’o returns as Nakia, T’Challa’s love interest who returns to fend off Namor and his army from taking over Wakanda’s supply of vibranium.
In the story of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” there are menacing villains and heartbreaking moments. This is a must-see movie for not only Marvel fans, but for everyone. You can feel the emotion within the action sequences and can understand what every character is fighting for.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” draws high hopes for the future of MCU and proves that the story of the Black Panther will always live on among us for years to come. With the loss of Chadwick Boseman, fans still feel that he will be a part of the MCU family for eternity. As the saying goes for the people of Wakanda, “Wakanda Forever.”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is now playing in theaters.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to New Mexico State University, the NMSU Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Kokopelli, or any other organization, committee, group or individual.
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Great work Josh! you killed it.