Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, released in theaters in November 2022, is now available for streaming on Disney+. The superhero sequel, directed by Ryan Coogler, marks the conclusion of Marvel's Phase 4 and serves as a poignant tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, who starred as the original Black Panther before passing away in 2020.

The debut of Black Panther was a revolutionary success, breaking box office records and earning multiple Academy Award nominations, a rare feat for a superhero film.

First Marvel Movie Receive An Oscar

Wakanda Forever became the first Marvel Studios film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Like its predecessor in 2018, it received high acclaim from both audiences and critics, earning over $842 million globally and ranking as one of the top-grossing films of 2022 Angela Bassett made history with Marvel as she received the first acting Oscar nomination for the studio, being recognized for Best Supporting Actress. A win for Bassett seems likely.

Wakanda Forever is now available on Disney+

Wakanda Forever is available on Disney+ and can also be accessed digitally. Fans can enjoy the movie in 4K Ultra HD, Blu- ray, and DVD format starting February 7th. Whether you're a first-time viewer or re-watching the film, Entertainment Weekly provides a comprehensive guide covering all aspects of Wakanda Forever, including spoilers, Easter eggs, and more.

A tribute to their fallen star

Eventually, Coogler and the cast decided to proceed as a tribute to their fallen star and to broaden the world he cherished. The film continues with the return of actors including Bassett as Queen Ramonda, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Danai Gurira as Okoye, and Winston Duke as M'Baku. It takes place after the events of Black Panther (2018) as the Wakandan nation mourns the loss of King T'Challa.

Wakanda Forever pays homage to Boseman in multiple ways. The movie serves as a tribute to both the actor and character, and at the beginning, Ramonda, Shuri, and Wakanda are grieving T'Challa's death from an unspecified illness. The standard Marvel Studios intro has been altered to commemorate Boseman, replacing the usual montage of Marvel superheroes with one entirely comprised of Boseman's footage.

The success of the first Black Panther

The success of the first Black Panther in 2018 prompted Marvel to quickly approve plans for a sequel. Director Ryan Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole started developing Wakanda Forever, which again revolves around the charming T'Challa, portrayed by Boseman. According to Coogler, their first draft was a "father-son story" focusing on T'Challa and his son Toussaint as they embark on a new journey together. (Further details about T'Challa's son will be discussed later.

Boseman's untimely death in August 2020

Unfortunately, these initial plans were altered following Boseman's untimely death in August 2020. He passed away at the age of 43 after privately battling colon cancer. Coogler was deeply affected by the loss of his leading actor and personal friend, and he previously informed Entertainment Weekly that he was uncertain if he wanted to continue with Wakanda.

 I was considering leaving the industry," Coogler stated. "I wasn't sure if I could make another movie, let alone another Black Panther film, as it was very painful. I wondered how I could expose myself to such emotions again.

 Eventually, Coogler and the cast decided to proceed as a tribute to their fallen star and to broaden the world he cherished. The film continues with the return of actors including Bassett as Queen Ramonda, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Danai Gurira as Okoye, and Winston Duke as M'Baku. It takes place after the events of Black Panther (2018) as the Wakandan nation mourns the loss of King T'Challa.

Wakanda Forever pays homage to Boseman in multiple ways. The movie serves as a tribute to both the actor and character, and at the beginning, Ramonda, Shuri, and Wakanda are grieving T'Challa's death from an unspecified illness. The standard Marvel Studios intro has been altered to commemorate Boseman, replacing the usual montage of Marvel superheroes with one entirely comprised of Boseman's footage.

Boseman makes an appearance

Boseman makes an appearance later in the film through a flashback as Shuri recalls her relationship with her elder brother. "I had him with me in every scene," Wright said to Entertainment Weekly. "I would often ask, 'Bro, what do you think?' and maintain a spiritual connection with him. He meant everything to me and is the reason I'm here. He chose me to be his sister, so I couldn't have gone on this journey without him.

Wakanda Forever honors T'Challa

While Wakanda Forever honors T'Challa, it also brings in several new heroes. The film focuses largely on Shuri, T'Challa's talented younger sister, who is dealing with her brother's death. In the end, Shuri takes on the mantle of Black Panther, carrying on her brother's legacy as the guardian of Wakanda

Riri Williams

Shuri is not alone in her journey. She forms a bond with Riri Williams, a talented American student who, inspired by Tony Stark, creates her own suit of armor. Riri's brilliance draws unwanted global attention and she joins forces with Shuri to fend off enemies. Thorne is thrilled with the character, stating, "I love the fact that she's just being her authentic self. Riri Williams, the 19-year-old student, is not a conventional superhero. Her priorities are clear, she's Riri first and the Ironheart business is secondary.

Powerful Villain Namor

Wakanda Forever features a powerful villain from the comics, with Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta playing Namor, the leader of the underwater kingdom of Talokan and a mutant known for his mercurial nature.

Namor in Wakanda Forever

Huerta underwent rigorous training for his role as Namor in Wakanda Forever. Although cast as the king of an underwater kingdom, he admits that he could not swim. In a conversation with the director, Coogler asked about Huerta's swimming abilities to which the actor replied, "I've never drowned before.

Coogler revealed his Plan

Coogler revealed that despite the challenges of adapting the film after Boseman's death, the inclusion of Namor and the Talokan nation was always in his original plans. Coogler shared that Boseman was thrilled about this aspect of the script, recalling their conversation at a restaurant in Los Feliz where Boseman expressed excitement about the unexpected indigenous American representation in the film. Boseman's reaction was marked by a huge smile and excitement over the unique twist in the story.

The emotional climax

The emotional climax of Wakanda Forever comes at the end with an impactful end-credits scene that hints at the future of Wakanda. During the credits, Shuri travels to Haiti to visit Nakia and discovers that she has secretly given birth to T'Challa's son. Shuri meets the young boy, portrayed by Divine Love Konadu-Sun, who is named Toussaint in recognition of Haitian leader Toussaint Louverture, but also goes by the Wakandan name T'Challa, in honor of his father and hinting at a possible future as a protector of Wakanda.