Black Panther 2: How Wakanda Forever can take Marvel movies to the next level

Black Panther 2: How Wakanda Forever can have Marvel movies to the next level

(Image credit: Marvel)

We just learned more than about Black Panther 2, to the delight of many — myself included. Yep, there's no hiding it, with a truckload of comic books, action figures, and an crawly baseball game jersey coming to my house in a few days — I am a Black Panther fan.

As y'all can imagine, it warmed my heart to see a title for the long-awaited sequel to Blackness Panther: Wakanda Forever. The possibilities for the sequel are as brilliant and lustrous as the title art seen in the Marvel Studios Celebrates The Movies trailer.

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And even so, it is of import to remember things equally they were the last time we saw Wakanda. No, not the flashback to the Wintertime Soldier's deprogramming from "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier." Think Infinity War.

The last time nosotros really saw Wakanda, the nation was in shambles after a state of war with Thanos and his minions. After a short-lived victory over the Black Society and the Outriders, everything had been lost — in a snap. Merely now, we're going dorsum to Wakanda, and information technology's time to think about what could have place in Blackness Panther 2, especially since nosotros won't accept King T'Challa to drive the story.

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And so where does the nation of Wakanda become from there? According to Marvel's website the sequel will "go along to explore the incomparable world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first moving picture."

We know that Marvel Studios will non recast the role of T'Challa in the aftermath of Chadwick Boseman's untimely passing. While we won't see T'Challa again, that doesn't mean the mantle of the Black Panther will become untaken.

A likely candidate is Shuri — T'Challa'southward sister, played in the movies by Letitia Wright. Combine that with rumors that Namor might be the main villain of Black Panther 2, and you lot become a neat opportunity to reenact some fantastic fights from the comics (check out Black Panther Vol 5 consequence eleven). Adding fight scenes to Shuri's technological greatness — comparable to the late, great Tony Stark — volition add depth to an already compelling graphic symbol.

Black Panther 2 — how will Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, and Lupita Nyong'o's characters move forward? — Will one of Wakanda'southward powerful women have the title of Black Panther? (Image credit: Alberto Eastward. Rodriguez / Getty)

Another unsung and ideologically compelling thespian in the Blackness Panther universe is Nakia. Long before T'Challa met with the Un to open up upward Wakanda's resources to the world at the terminate of the first Blackness Panther movie, it was Nakia who criticized the nation'southward isolationist approach.

At that place'south certainly a story to tell near her background every bit a sometime member of the Dora Milaje and her spy background. Based on her history in the comic books, there'south too room for a heel turn — where she turns on her friends and allies.

Another fantabulous Nakia storyline comes in Black Panther Vol. 3, No. 1, which only so happens to mark the beginning appearances of the Dora Milaje, Okoye and Zuri. It likewise brings Nakia to the series, starting a chain of events that volition eventually lead to her becoming Malice, a thorn in the side of T'Challa (and his significant others).

Black Panther 2 Michael B. Jordan — (Paradigm credit: Curiosity Studios/Disney Plus)

"Malice has significant backstories with two of T'Challa's rivals — Erik Killmonger and Human-Ape, or more familiarly, M'Baku. Despite Killmonger's apparent death in the first pic, fans of the comics are familiar with Michael B. Jordan's grapheme and his Resurrection Chantry. Killmonger one time used the chantry to revive Nakia after she was tortured, and gained enhanced abilities during the procedure. If Killmonger actually (somehow) comes back, there's a born storyline for his render.

And and so there is K'Baku, known as Human-Ape, in the comics. We've seen Lupita North'yongo and Winston Duke team up on the argent screen before. If ane particular storyline is a guide, we could see the evil incarnation of N'yongo's character and the leader of the Jabari tribe come up together in a manner that would shock audiences. During a series of efforts in the comics to attack T'Challa and his family, Malice freed Man-Ape in a plot to kidnap Queen Mother Ramonda. There's also a serial in the comics, literally named "Wakanda Forever," that includes Nakia, Ayo of "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" fame and Secretary Everett Ross.

In centering only two characters' stories, at that place is a way to incorporate and then many of the same "rich and varied" characters. And however, I can't just help to think near the dialogue that opened up the original motion picture:

Young Killmonger:Baba...

North'Jobu:Yes, my son.

Young Killmonger:Tell me a story.

N'Jobu: Which one?

Young Killmonger:The story of dwelling house.

Due north'Jobu then tells young Killmonger about the history of a vibranium meteorite crashing from the skies, and leading to the founding of Wakanda. And if we are to come across why Wakanda is forever, we may in fact see more of how information technology was founded, and became the fractured society information technology was at the offset of the first Black Panther picture show.

Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever — How volition Wakanda stay strong forever? (Image credit: Marvel)

Talking almost the characters from the outset movie merely scratches the surface of this sub-saharan nation unfettered by colonialism. In describing the earth of Wakanda, one must explore the meteoric rock of ages that changed the land forever. Sure, we saw the towering architecture and genius weaponry. Merely what about the origins of vibranium in Wakanda? Could such a story exist a callback to the return of Klaw?

And across vibranium, at that place's so much to exist told about Wakanda's traditions and regime. There's a menstruum of time before the meteorite hit Africa that is acknowledged as "Old Wakanda." That flow was reigned by The Originators, a species of mythical beasts. What the vibranium meteorite heralded was a disharmonize between mortal men and gods — a cute mythology just waiting to exist explored on screen.

Whichever way Marvel Studios and Ryan Coogler determine to go with the sequel, I firmly believe information technology will exist glorious and long overdue. Whether the story chooses to explore Wakanda'southward independence, its ideologies or its constant threat of invasion, it will undoubtedly present a compelling story that will resonate for years to come.

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Ken J. Makin is a tech and entertainment writer for Tom's Guide, and has nearly 20 years of experience equally a journalist. He'south an avid podcaster and freelancer for diverse sites, including ESPN's The Undefeated and The Christian Science Monitor. When he's non podding or writing, Ken is likely spending time with his wife and children.