Who is Black Panther in Wakanda Forever? Signs point to Shuri

This is the first teaser. Wakanda for Ever: Black Panther confirmed what many fans had suspected — someone else would take up the mantle of the Black Panther after T’Challa’s (and star Chadwick Boseman’s) death.

And with Monday’s full trailer, Marvel has finally hinted at who might take over. In a continuing trend of the Marvel’s recent Phases, a woman will step into the role of Wakanda’s protector.

Now the question is: Who? Let’s explore the possibilities.

Shuri the Black Panther

Image: Marvel Studios

Let’s get the obvious one on the table first. In Marvel Comics lore, Shuri has stepped into the boots of the Black Panther before, when supervillains trapped T’Challa in a state between life and death. She earned Bast’s blessing and underwent the trials to ingest the heart-shaped herb, all while stopping a war. Even after T’Challa recovered, he took a break from being Black Panther and let her keep the job for a while.

Suffice to say, Letitia Wright’s Shuri has plenty of precedent to put on the costume. And, well, the new costume’s mask has her characteristic makeup. But just in case that’s a red herring, here are some other options.

Traditionally, in the comics, the role of Black Panther falls first to someone in Wakanda’s line of succession. But in 2018’s Black Panther, Ryan Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole introduced a ceremony in which Wakanda’s political factions are given a chance to best the Black Panther in single combat, and thereby win the mantle and crown. Which means it doesn’t You can find it hereUnder that mask, Shuri will be Shuri.

Nakia

Image: Marvel Studios

Another strong possibility for the role is Lupita Nyong’o’s Nakia, with plenty of experience as one of Wakanda’s covert War Dog operatives and the utmost loyalty to the royal family, as demonstrated in Black Panther (2018). Marvel Studios would be very proud if they were able to secure the Academy Award-winning actress for a role as a leader.

Okoye

Image: Marvel Studios

And finally, who will the Black Panther be? Black Panther, and not Shuri, and not Nakia, it could be that we’ll see Okoye, leader of the Dora Milaje, in the costume. Danai Gura has re-enacted the role twice before. Avengers: Infinity War FinaleHe has been known to make time for Marvel films in the past. It also seems like the MCU’s version of the Dora Milaje will be further explored in Wakanda ForeverThey include their elite flying troop, the Midnight Angels. Perhaps it’s all in prep for Okoye to take on the position she’s always served under?

Aneka

Image: Marvel Studios

Marvel would tap on one of their Midnight Angels to pull off the most wildest draw possible. NewCast members Wakanda Forever, and in that category none are better positioned than Michaela Coel’s Aneka. The MCU version is not known much, however, Marvel Comics has Aneka as one of Marvel Comics’ best characters. She and her lover, Ayo — played by Florence Kasumba in Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity WarAnd The Falcon, and the Winter Soldier — defected from the Dora in protest of T’Challa’s unilateral rule and to fight more directly for the safety of women in Wakanda’s countryside.

But therein lies the depressing reason she’s probably not in that costume: Her character is canonically queer, and has been since her first appearance. While Marvel Studios has made some small steps toward queer representation in the MCU, it still relegates such characters to tertiary roles and blink-or-you’ll-miss-it moments.

Let’s conclude. It’s almost certainly Shuri. It was the breakout star of “The Quippy Princess”. Black PantherWright, while at the right time in her career (the start of it), is ready to take on an Avengers-level position in the MCU. Shuri has comics precedent for being Wakanda’s highest protector, and the movie’s new costume appears to share her character design.

But there’s no doubt that Wakanda for Ever: Black Panther will have plenty of surprises in store beyond who’s in the title role.