There’s a new Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever depicts Shuri’s journey. The future of Black Panther changed forever when Chadwick Boseman died in 2020, and Marvel Studios decided not to recreate T’Challa. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever honors Boseman’s legacy and reinforces this stance, T’Challa passed away in the opening minutes. But with Namor’s threat and more casualties rising, it’s time for the MCU to introduce a new Black Panther to Shuri (Letitia Wright).
Shuri’s journey to becoming the new Black Panther of the MCU is central to the story of Black Panther 2. A pre-release of theories suggested that any of M’baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Nakiya (Lupita Nyong’o), and the versatile Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) could take the spell. But the film reveals that Shuri is the only one who deserves to back down and take responsibility. This allows him to transport Wakanda to a new era and defeat Namor in battle at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Now that Shuri is the new Black Panther, here’s how she got here, what her powers are, and what the future holds.
How Shuri is the MCU’s New Black Panther
The fate of Black Panther Mantle changed in the original 2018 film, as Killmonger burns every trace of the heart-shaped herb, the last one keeping T’Challa alive. The implications of this decision are even more relevant when Black Panther 2 begins, as Shuri cannot cure her brother from an unknown disease if Wakanda doesn’t have a powerful herb. It also means that there is no way for someone else to perform a heart-shaped herbal ritual to become the new Black Panther. Shuri has no interest in continuing the plot even at the beginning of the film. It is only after the death of Ramonda (Angela Bassett) that she reconsiders her position.
After breaking the code to recreate the heart-shaped Herb, Shuri was able to become the new Black Panther of the MCU. This is only possible thanks to the bracelet given by Namor, which has traces of a rare flower, which made up the Talogan people and developed from vibranium-rich clay. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri drinks a liquid made from a fresh heart-shaped herb as she travels to the ancestral plane, where she sees Killmonger. While she initially suspects that the ceremony has worked and thinks the panther god Bast has rejected her, she soon learns that she has Black Panther powers.
How Powerful Shuri’s Black Panther Is In Wakanda Forever
Shuri’s Black Panther powers in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever can be compared to those who held the mantle in front of him. The heart-shaped herb gives him super strength despite not wearing a Black Panther costume. Shuri appears to have increased speed, stamina, and other physical attributes as a result of his superhero transformation that go with his talent-level intelligence. All indications are that she is at least as powerful as T’Challa or Killmonger, making her a super soldier. Shuri’s powers increase when she puts on her special Vibranium Black Panther suit.
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How does Shuri’s Black Panther suit compare to T’Challa’s?
The trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever features several teases of Shuri’s new Black Panther suit, but the film takes a closer look at the design and its unique features. The Black Panther suit retains the nanotechnology enhancements that Shuri applied to T’Challa in Black Panther. It also has the same energy absorption and redistribution capabilities that T’Challa had. The actual look of Shuri’s Black Panther costume has been changed as it has various accent pieces in the design. The outfit is also highlighted with gold pieces, which visually resemble T’Saka and Killmonger’s outfits.
Shuri’s Black Panther costume also has white spots on the mask, which is one of the best early indicators that the princess is the new Black Panther from the MCU. She gave herself a unique upgrade by incorporating her leopard-shaped gauntlets into the costume, which are made by her hands and fiery sonic explosions. This gives Shuri’s Black Panther costume a significant advantage over previous modifications, as it allows him to perform long-range attacks. Her outfit is different from the comics, where Shuri usually has a fur collar and sometimes a cape attached to the costume.
Shuri’s MCU future: where the new Black Panther might return
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is considered the first of several appearances by Shuri as the new Black Panther in the MCU. He has room to return in several upcoming projects, including some spinoffs of the sequels. Black Panther 2 introduces Riri Williams (Dominic Thorne) before her Ironheart Disney+ debut, and the friendship that develops between Riri and Shuri paves the way for another meeting in Chicago. There are several Wakanda spinoff shows in development, so it wouldn’t make sense for Shuri to return to these if she retains the throne — but that’s not guaranteed.
If the Black Panther franchise continues, Shuri will have another appearance in the MCU future. As Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and director Ryan Coogler have already discussed some of the ideas, there is a strong possibility that Black Panther 3 will happen. If Black Panther 3 happens and doesn’t have Shuri’s Black Panther, it will be very confusing for viewers. He may return before a possible sequel in Avengers: The Kong Dynasty or Avengers: Secret Wars. There’s no doubt Shuri will be back, and Marvel has plenty of options to keep Letitia Wright if they want to.
Shuri gives Black Panther a big future by creating a heart-shaped herb
Black Panther’s MCU future is bigger than Shuri’s, thanks to the revelations at the end of Black Panther 2. After Shuri cracks the code to print a new heart-shaped herb, she decides to never leave Wakanda without the plant again. One of the final scenes of the film shows Shuri planting heart-shaped herbs in Wakanda. This guarantees that Marvel Studios will have a way to gain Black Panther’s powers and help the other characters replace T’Challa. The MCU will take it slow when it comes to expanding Black Panther’s ranks, as Shuri has just reclaimed the mantle, but the future is still bright.
Will Shuri be the only Black Panther to advance in the MCU?
Shuri can’t be the only Black Panther in the MCU going forward. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever shows two Black Panther masks that Shuri made in addition to his costume. Although one pertains to T’Challa, the film mentions that Shuri made his Black Panther costume before officially going through the process of obtaining his powers from Bast. This means that Wakanda has other Black Panther suits for others to wear after digesting one of the new heart-shaped herons created by Shuri. So it looks like there may be multiple Black Panthers in the future MCU.
Marvel Studios has talked about the possibility of several characters being Black Panther since the release of the first film. “Black Panther is a lot more as a person, so we’re not limiting anything,” creator Nate Moore told ScreenRande in 2018 when asked about the other characters becoming Black Panther. That’s why Black Panther 2 ends with M’baku challenging the throne of Wakanda to drink a heart-shaped herb that will allow him to become another Black Panther. Plus, the post-credits scene of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gives T’Challa’s secret son the opportunity to finally take over.
Should Nakia and T’Challa’s son become the MCU’s next Black Panther?
The big surprise of Black Panther 2’s post-credits scene is that Nakia and T’Challa have a son named Toussaint (and T’Challa), which could also tease Marvel’s long-term plans for Black Panther Mantle. . Shuri is currently pegged as the MCU’s new Black Panther, but Letitia Wright won’t be able to play the role forever. Marvel has now decided who will replace him. Giving T’Challa a son who shares his name gives the studio the opportunity to tell stories about T’Challa without even playing the character of Chadwick Boseman.
T’Challa’s son’s ability to become the MCU’s next Black Panther won’t pay off for years to come. Prince T’Challa/Toussaint is five or six years old at the time of Black Panther: Wakanda Is Forever. Even though Marvel is putting together a Young Avengers roster, he’s too young to be a superhero. Marvel is in no hurry to make a decision about what will happen to Nakia and T’Challa’s son. However, when it comes to Black Panther’s MCU future, his debut gives the franchise another chance to tell the story.
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