DISCLAIMER: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!! 

Please do not continue reading this article if you intend on seeing the movie since it does contain major Black Panther: Wakanda Forever spoilers (originally released exclusively in theaters on November 11th, 2022). 

“Dedicated to our friend, our inspiration, and our hero Chadwick Boseman.”

Marvel Studios released the first look at Wakanda Forever at this year’s summer Comic Con convention. The Black Panther portion of the panel made the most emotional impact through the flurry of projects announced. As Kevin Feige announced a slew of new projects set to release throughout the next two years, the Wakanda Forever cast got very emotional as they paid tribute to the late star, Chadwick Boseman. The Black Panther star passed away suddenly back in August of 2020 after his long private battle with colorectal cancer. After his untimely passing, Marvel along with Kevin Feige announced they made the executive decision in killing the character of T’Challa instead of recasting. President of Marvel Studios said in an interview with Empire magazine that “it just felt like it was much too soon to recast.” But the absence of the character of T’Challa does not mean the Wakanda Forever cast won’t let his legacy live on. The Wakanda Forever presentation started with a rousing musical performance full of singers, dancers and drummers. The performance was followed by an introduction by director Ryan Coogler. He talked about how different his first Comic-Con experience was when Chadwick Boseman was sitting right next to him. “He was really strong and he was getting excited and as the clip went on he was squeezing my shoulder the whole time and when it finished, I couldn’t even lift my arm, I felt his hand for the rest of that day. Standing here with you all, listening to that music and thinking about it all, I promise you I can feel his hand on me right now.” After the first trailer of the movie was shown the entire cast got emotional and huddled together. This film is for Chadwick and was always going to be for him. Ryan Coogler said, “Chad is no longer with us physically but his spirit, his passion, his genius, his pride in his culture and the impact that he made on this industry will be felt forever. We put our love for Chadwick into this film and we also put our passion.” 

Wakanda IS Forever

Wakanda is Forever as well as our King, Chadwick Boseman. Wakanda Forever is an emotional rollercoaster of a film and is as crucial as they come. The film’s primary focus was on the aftermath of King T’Challa’s death and everything revolving around that. Who will lead Wakanda? What happens to the throne? But most importantly, who will be the next Black Panther? As Wakanda Forever was closing the book on not only the character of T’Challa but the end of Chadwick Boseman in the MCU. His life and legacy will continue within the films.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was one of the most anticipated movies of the year due to the success of Black Panther (2018) and the praise director, Ryan Coogler, and the phenomenal cast including Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, and Angela Bassett received from it. Though Chadwick Boseman’s life was cut short and he was unable to be in this film physically, he will always be a part of Wakanda and the Marvel family. Fan-favorites like Letitia Wright back as Princess Shuri, the remarkable Angela Bassett reprising her role as Queen Ramonda, with Black Panther legends Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okyoe, Winston Duke as M’Baku, and everyone’s favorite agent, Everett K. Ross, played by Martin Freeman. Some new additions to the MCU making their Marvel debut include Tenoch Huerta as one of the most popular comic book characters in live-action form, Namor the Submariner, as well as Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams AKA IronHeart. Having such a talented director like Ryan Coogler who is known for such movies like Creed and Judas and the Black Messiah directing one of the most pivotal and impactful Marvel movies to date back in 2018 was revolutionary. Black Panther was such a significant deal for cinema and Hollywood, all the praise stemmed from the conscious and careful race and gender castings making sure it wasn’t just an action or superhero film, but it was culturally advanced. The Marvel Cinematic Universe became so popular and widespread by the fact that Black Panther was the not only the first MCU film to be up for an Academy Award for Best Picture at the Oscars but the first ever superhero film to receive such an honor. At the 91st Academy Awards, Black Panther lost to Green Book for Best Picture that year. Since Ryan Coogler’s Marvel directorial debut was such a hit and shattered records throughout the world, it was no question that Wakanda Forever would go bigger and better. Of course without the King of Wakanda himself missing from the production there was definitely a cause for concern with fans with how Marvel would handle everything as well as the initial feel of the movie that Black Panther did so perfectly back in 2018. Ryan Coogler absolutely hit it out of the park again. Fans as well as critics are completely raving about Wakanda Forever. The films sit certified fresh by both critics and fans. As of November 12th, critics rated the film an 84% where fans gave it a 95%, which is a bit of difference. Critics are ultimately satisfied with the film but do not believe it is as good as the first Black Panther movie (which is yet another argument within the Marvel community). Critics are saying, “Wakanda Forever doesn’t reach the first Black Panther’s greatness but it succeeds as a beautiful, emotional tribute to Chadwick Boseman, while honoring the powerful women of Wakanda” and “Coogler pulls off an incredible feat, despite some story stumbles, creating a superhero film that is emotionally affecting, politically and culturally urgent, and that pays loving tribute not just to T’Challa but Chadwick Boseman too” (all quoted reviews are on Rotten Tomatoes). Briefly mentioned above, fans are torn between which Black Panther film is better with reviews saying, “IMO [in my opinion], this is one of the best MCU films. Ryan Coogler [the director] did a fantastic job. Tribute [for Chadwick Boseman] done right. You should not miss it” and “It’s a good movie, totally worth watching and I feel like it would have another sequel […] But as I said this movie is an important one, so [you] better watch it!” (all quoted reviews can be found on Audience Reviews on Google). Even though some fans have mixed opinions on how everything was handled and the initial storyline, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever should be seen no matter what since (as mentioned above) most elements are going to play a very big role in the future of the MCU. 

The cast includes Chadwick Boseman as our King of Wakanda himself, King T’Challa AKA Black Panther in re-used footage from Black Panther as well as Letitia Wright (Princess Shuri), Tenoch Huerta (King Namor the Submariner/K’uk’ulkan), Angela Bassett (Queen Ramonda), Danai Gurira (Okyoe), Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia), Winston Duke (M’Baku), Martin Freeman (Everett K. Ross), Dominique Thorne (Riri Williams/IronHeart), Florence Kasumba (Ayo), Michaela Coel (Aneka), Mabel Cadena (Namora), Alex Livinalli (Attuma), and with a surprise cameos by Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra de Fontaine), Anderson Cooper as himself, and introducing Divine Love Konadu-Sun as Toussaint AKA Prince T’Challa son of King T’Challa of Wakanda. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Review (covered by Val Kohan)

As a die-hard Marvel fan and connoisseur, I’m always up for the next adventure and movie Marvel Studios throws at fans. Since Black Panther was and still is as big of a film due to its significance as well as Wakanda Forever being the most anticipated movie of the year, my expectations were extremely high as always. I am completely heartbroken from the sudden passing of Chadwick Boseman, he was not only an amazing person and actor but the love and contributions he brought to a character as popular as Black Panther just made the story of T’Challa just as emotional. The sequel to Black Panther was originally intended to reunite the entire cast and to continue the bonafide cultural phenomenon. Overall, Wakanda Forever was a perfectly transcribed movie on behalf of Ryan Coogler, the cast, and of course the legacy left behind by Chadwick Boseman. I would like to put it out there that I can get very emotional over movies, even Marvel films, like Tony Stark’s sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, the beautiful tribute for Stan Lee at the beginning of Captain Marvel, and the entirety of Spider-Man: No Way Home. But I can truthfully say that I have never cried more in a movie than I did in Wakanda Forever, which is saying a lot. Right from the start of the film with a very hectic scene of Shuri frantically trying to come up for a cure or solution to help T’Challa’s illness they mentioned he kept hidden from everyone for a while but failed to do so. Queen Ramonda then goes into Shuri’s lab saying that her brother, T’Challa, is with the ancestors now. The emotions in this scene between Shuri and Ramonda are purely how Letitia Wright and Angela Bassett were with Chadwick. I know this didn’t sit well with a lot of fans because it was a very fine line of what was fictional and what wasn’t between T’Challa and Chadwick. But I believe Marvel as well as Ryan Coogler handled this situation perfectly. A sequel to Black Panther has been planned since the initial release of the first film back in 2018. Wakanda Forever had to happen despite the loss of its leading actor who brought so much to the Black Panther family. That being said, Marvel had to explore how the characters and everyone in Black Panther would mourn their fallen leader and hero as the center of its story. If the opening scene wasn’t heart wrenching enough, the Marvel Studios opening crawl is usually a montage of MCU characters with clips from previous movies to the iconic Marvel theme which culminates into the red Marvel Studios logo. Marvel changed the opening in front of Wakanda Forever from the usual montage of the characters to a crawl that is just multiple shots of T’Challa and Chadwick to a purple backdrop for Black Panther. Instead of the intro being set to the usual Marvel theme music, the opening is completely silent for audiences to have a moment of silence for the late, great Chadwick Boseman. This is such a powerful and emotional experience especially to see it on the big screen. When I saw the film on opening night, the entire theater was completely silent and I had to hold back my sobbing tears because the moment was quite beautiful. Recently when I saw Spider-Man: No Way Home, I have never experienced a better audience than I did on opening night with a bunch of fans dressed up as different Spider-Men as well as the crowds completely losing it over Charlie Cox, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire’s debut in the MCU. That was my best Marvel experience up until now. That is now however changed because I have never experienced an audience as heartbroken as I did in Wakanda Forever. The moment of silence for Chadwick before the film, usually the crowds are rowdy but this film commanded so much respect. In Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa says, “In my culture, death is not the end. It’s more of a stepping off point.” The entire film is a heartwarming tribute to Chadwick Boseman but it is also full of cameos, introduces new characters, and has some of the best action sequences. I was most excited to see Namor the Submariner and all my expectations were just blown out of the water (Namor pun-intended). Tenoch Huerta was thee perfect Namor and just killed it as the winged feet god. It was definitely worth the wait to see one of the greatest comic characters live action, especially in such an extravagant project. Huerta played Namor to be this intimidating leader and figure, the character goes from barely being able to contain his rage to a very amiable, charismatic mystique. This is exactly how the character of Namor should be, fans should be questioning if they can trust him or to root for him or not. Namor fits the bill of an anti-hero. One scene in particular is when Namor is first introduced he is very threatening. Ramonda asks who this man is who just emerged from the water and trespassed onto her land. Namor says, “My people call me K’uk’ulkan… but my enemies call me Namor.” The shift in this scene shows how perfectly Huerta embodies the submariner. Fans, like me, are completely freaking out about one scene in Wakanda Forever and that one being when Namor takes Shuri around his kingdom to “Con La Brisa”. Marvel could not hide the chemistry between Namor and Shuri in this scene which has such a beautiful setting underwater. Namor even gives Shuri his mother’s bracelets which has to mean something, right?! The storyline of the movie was long compared to action sequences but fans must understand that Wakanda Forever had some of the best character arcs and that the entire plot helped develop most of the characters in the film. Every single cast member in this film showed their true emotions surrounding Chadwick’s sudden passing.

“In my culture, death is not the end. It’s more of a stepping off point.” 

Look out for, “Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Easter Egg and Hidden Details You May Have Missed” Coming Soon!!