With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever now in theaters, fans can finally see the latest chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The new film uses much of its runtime to expand upon the world of the original Black Panther movie and other facets of the MCU. Of course, it’s the ending of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that really brings the story together and sets the stage for what’s next to come.
With the death of original Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever focuses on honoring the actor’s legacy as the character while passing the torch to Letitia Wright’s Shuri. Her character ultimately becomes the next Black Panther after using technology as a way to grieve the death of her brother T’Challa. Eventually, she actually manages to reconstruct the heart-shaped herb using a different herb that gave the people of Talokan their underwater abilities.
Upon using this herb, Shuri not only meets Killmonger in the Ancestral Plane, but she wakes up to find that she has become the new Black Panther. Now she has the strength to avenge Ramonda’s death and launches a counter-attack on Namor. The two personally fight after the Wakandans use a vessel named the Sea Leopard to lure him and his people into battle. However, Shuri spares Namor because she realizes the similarities between their two peoples. As a result, they agree to have a peaceful alliance.
It’s implied that M’Baku eventually acquires the Wakandan throne, which separates the title from the Black Panther role. At the same time, Shuri plants some of her synthetic heart-shaped herb in the forest, which now restarts the Black Panther tradition. It’s a full-circle ending that also sets up the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever post-credits scene. As such, we probably haven’t seen the last of T’Challa’s legacy.
Ryan Coogler directed Black Panther: Wakanda Forever from a screenplay he co-wrote with Joe Robert Cole.
The cast for the new MCU film includes Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Danai Gurira, Florence Kasumba, Lupita Nyong’o, Martin Freeman, Tenoch Huerta, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, and Alex Livanalli.
Fans can currently see Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in theaters. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for additional updates for upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe projects as we have them.