Everyone knew who the new Black Panther would be long before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was released, but in case you didn’t know, and you still haven’t watched the movie, get out of here! There are spoilers ahead!
Letitia Wright’s Princess Shuri is the new Black Panther, it was always the obvious choice. I was still kind of hoping Marvel would surprise audiences with something unexpected, but they didn’t. In the story, after lots of trial and error, and a gift from Namor, Shuri is able to recreate the Heart-Shaped Herb with the genetic code to give her the power of the Black Panther and take on that mantel.
Now, in early conversations, Marvel’s creative team talked about other characters that could possibly take on the mantle of Black Panther, because it really could have gone to anyone! During an interview with Marvel, producer Nate Moore explains why they chose Shuri to fill that role saying:
“[Shuri] just felt like the most organic storytelling choice. We had a performer that we knew could carry that if she agreed to do it. We didn't really explore other options that thoroughly because this just felt like the right thing to do.”
When Wright got the call that she would be the new Black Panther Moore explained how she understood the importance of taking on this challenge and she “wanted and wants to do right by this franchise.” He went on to say:
“She understood A, what it means to people generally, and B, I think what this franchise meant to Chadwick, as an artist, and as a performer. While I'm not sure that she ever envisioned herself donning the mantle and carrying this film, she was 100% game. I think that's a credit to her and to her spirit. To come to her and say, hey, we want to continue this franchise, and we think you're the right person to be at the center of it was a big ask. But she was game for it and has never blanched from that responsibility as a storyteller.”
As for Shuri being the obvious choice, writer and director Ryan Coogler went on to say:
“It’s hard to say it was obvious because Chad’s passing was so unexpected, but it was a choice that made a lot of sense. As we realized what the [theme] was and when you talk about T’Challa passing, who would be the most affected by that? It became clear that Shuri should be the nexus of our movie.”
Wright went on to share her thoughts on taking on the role of Black Panther saying that when she learned this would be the direction for her character, it was “difficult to imagine [the movie] without him,” but she was up for carrying the franchise forward and knew that’s what Chadwick Boseman would have wanted. She said:
“You’ve got to keep inspiring people, you have to move forward. When Ryan gave me that call, it was tough. He slowly, gently explained to me his intention of how we can honor Chad in this film and how we can honor what was created by us as a family.”
In regards to Bousman not being there to pass the torch to her, it’s something she had to process and said:
“I had to process that and pray and ask him if it's okay for me to do it. Once I felt at peace, that it was the right thing, I accepted. I said to Ryan I’ll do my best. I made a commitment. I was like I’ll honor God and I’ll honor Chad with Shuri in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Then it was just a process of going through this and I'm praying that we make him proud.”
As I’ve been reading people’s reactions to the film, fans seem to be split. Some fans like Shuri as Black Panther, while others just don’t think she has what it takes to carry the franchise forward. I’ve just surprised that she actually survived at the end after being impaled! After all, that’s how Killmonger was killed in the first film.
What do you all think about Shuri being the new Black Panther? While she was the obvious choice, is she the right choice? Sound off in the comments below!
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