Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has proved to be a hit, as it had an impressive opening weekend at the box office. This film serves as a beautiful tribute to T’Challa, the character, and Chadwick Boseman, the actor, after the actor died in 2020. It also establishes a new world order for Wakanda and beyond, and these changes are likely to have major repercussions. . consequences in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plus, the introduction of Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) continues the Phase Four pattern of introducing new heroes and laying the foundations for a new generation.
For all these reasons and more, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a game changer, both in the immediate sense and in the bigger picture. With that in mind, let’s dive into the most obvious way the film will shape the MCU’s direction going forward.
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The New Black Panther Rises
Perhaps the most obvious way Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a paradigm shift with the arrival of a new hero to Wakanda. After T’Challa’s death, the country was left without its famous patron. Ramonda becomes the Queen Mother, so Wakanda has a ruler, but the lack of a strong guardian is felt throughout the story. At first, without access to the heart-shaped potion after Killmonger destroyed them all in the first film, Wakanda is unable to crown the new Black Panther. Shuri initially tries to make a synthetic version of the potion, hoping it will save T’Challa’s life, but she dies before she finds the right formula. His research continues, but he is unable to decipher the code until the final cut of the film.
In doing so, he gave Wakanda the ability to possess the Black Panther again and placed the onus on his own shoulders to fight Namor. Whether it’s intentional or not, the long journey of creating new potions goes hand in hand with the grieving process. It doesn’t feel right that Shuri managed to concoct the potion right after T’Challa died. Instead, it feels appropriate that it takes so long, as this span of time allows Shuri, Wakanda, and even the audience the time it takes to mourn fallen heroes. By the time he succeeded and donned the Black Panther costume, the timing was perfect, as everyone was reluctantly ready to move into a new era. She honors her brother by carrying the mantle, and after Ramonda’s tragic death, she’s also the original remaining member of her family – though a new one joins the mix in the mid-credits scene.
The new world order
On that note, the geopolitics within the MCU would change substantially thereafter Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. At the start of the film, tensions begin to build when several countries, including the United States, pressure Wakanda to share their Vibranium access. This conflict is prominent in the early stages of the film, when mercenaries try to retrieve some metal when they find it in the Atlantic Ocean. This mission leads to conflict with Atlantis, as Namor is eager to defend his kingdom and seas. Ultimately, Namor is practically at war with Wakanda, and it will take Shuri’s rise as the new Black Panther to stop him. While these threats are dealt with, others await on the horizon.
At various points in the film, the United States, among other nations, is positioned as a potential enemy of Wakanda because of their desire for Vibranium. Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), in particular, stands out as an upstart enemy waiting in the wings; he arrests Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) for exchanging vital information with Wakandans. At the very least, he made it clear that he was not a friend of Wakanda. Looking ahead, Fontaine and the looming return of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross could lead to an all-out battle between Wakanda—which has just started under its new regime—and the United States. If so, the MCU could be turned upside down, as it would revisit the question of the Avengers’ political alliance (or lack thereof), which became quite prominent in Captain America Civil War. Given how much has changed since then, this exploration will lead to some thrilling developments in the future.
Ironheart Break Out
Of course, one of the most obvious results in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the introduction of Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne). Immediately, he is established as one of the smartest people in the MCU, when he creates the design for the Vibranium detection engine, giving otherworldly powers the ability to search for what has become a hidden resource. He is ripped from his life at MIT when Namor threatens to kill him and Shuri and Okoye take him to Wakanda. Of course, Riri fits right in with a technologically advanced society, and she plays a vital role in helping Wakanda win the ultimate battle against Namor’s forces.
Fans also get to see Riri’s Ironheart armor, and it’s clear that she’ll be following in Tony Starks’ footsteps while also carving out a path of her own. The juxtaposition of these two journeys promises to be an interesting one. His arc as a hero will continue in his own Disney+ series, Ironheart. Fans had to wait a bit for the premiere, but this debut makes Riri one of the most extraordinary legacy heroes in the MCU.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever more than just a tribute to characters and loved ones brought in too soon, though this mission is the heart of the film. Beyond that, the film deals with the status quo being forcibly altered for Wakanda and taking the country on a journey that veers to the brink of disaster. In the end, led by Shuri, everyone came out from the other side after barely avoiding being crushed. Now, with a new leader and a new protector watching over them, the people of Wakanda can fully move on with their lives while continuing to honor T’Challa’s legacy.
As for the bigger picture, Shuri and Riri will likely be major players in the future, and the prospect of escalating tensions between the United States and Wakanda has the potential to send shockwaves through the MCU.