Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Letitia Wright has responded to the idea of her character Shuri taking on the mantle of the Black Panther following the death of T’Challa. Speaking with Empire, Wright played things coy when discussing the idea of becoming the new Black Panther in the upcoming sequel, calling the subject “tricky” before revealing that she has known all along that donning the vibranium suit could be on the horizon.
“That’s a tricky question to answer. I had a chat about it with Ryan and Chad when we were making Black Panther, and we touched on it briefly. When I realised I was playing Shuri, it was something that I really looked forward to.”
Shuri does become Black Panther in the pages of Marvel Comics, and while Wright reveals that the idea of Shuri taking up the mantle was already something that was discussed between herself, director Ryan Coogler and actor Chadwick Boseman back when they were making the first outing, it is unlikely that Wright thought the idea would come to fruition so soon.
Sadly, a new Black Panther is now needed following the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in August 2020 after a private battle with colon cancer. There are several characters who could step into the vibranium boots, with the likes of Shuri and Winston Duke’s M’Baku the heavy favorites.
Rumored Plot Leaks Have Revealed Who Will Become Black Panther
Be warned, there are possible SPOILERS for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to follow.
While we await the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, rumored plot details have reportedly leaked, and reveal who will become the next Black Panther following the sudden demise of T’Challa. The apparent plot details state that T’Challa passes away from “sickness” prior to the start of the “war between Wakanda and Atlantis.” This is where Shuri enters the fray, making “an artificial flower to gain the black panther powers and gain the ancestral plane.” This leads to a major cameo, as Shuri expects to see T'Challa again but instead meets Killmonger, who “helps her become the new Black Panther.” So, according to this leak, Letitia Wright’s Shuri will indeed pick up the mantle.
The potential SPOILERS continue, with the plot leak stating that, following the battle between the nations of Wakanda and Atlantis, Shuri “defeats Namor but doesn't kill him.” It is then revealed that M'Baku becomes “the new king of Wakanda whule Shuri is the Black Panther,” allowing the two fan-favorite Black Panther characters to continue the legacy left behind by Boseman’s T’Challa together.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever stars Letitia Wright as Shuri, Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M'Baku, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams aka Ironheart, Michaela Coel as Aneka, Tenoch Huerta as Namor, Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross, and Angela Bassett as Ramonda.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is scheduled to be released on November 11, 2022, as the final part of Phase Four of the MCU.