The Black Panther mantle has officially changed within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shuri assumes the heroic role at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as T’Challa passes away off-screen to reflect the tragic death of his actor Chadwick Boseman. This implies that Shuri may take on the kinds of story beats that T’Challa would have otherwise been given in the future, enabling her to play some very significant roles.
Notably, Avengers: Secret Wars, which is set to wrap up the Multiverse Saga spanning Phases Four, Five, and Six of the MCU, may be included in this. If the Secret Wars tale being adapted is that of the 2015 miniseries by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribi, then Black Panther will play a significant role in later events, and Shuri could easily step into that position.
What Was the plot of Secret Wars’ Black Panther?
The Illuminati’s new incarnation as depicted in Black Panther was the focus of New Avengers prior to 2015’s Secret Wars. T’Challa collaborated with Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Beast, Black Bolt, Namor, and Captain America to try and find a solution as the multiverse threatened to end as a result of Incursions. As a result of their efforts, they were forced to follow increasingly sinister paths, which caused them to exorcise Captain America’s rigid morals and pave the way for a future civil war of superheroes.
As their hostility grew, Black Pantherand Namor traded blows more frequently, eventually forcing Black Panther to abandon Namor to die on a dying planet.
Black Panther was one of the few Earth-616 survivors in Secret Wars when an Incursion wiped out the universe. After arriving on Battleworld, the heroes were dispersed throughout the patchwork planet, and Black Panther and Namor once more found themselves paired up. When they finally reach Doctor Strange’s hidden island, Black Panther uses the Infinity Gauntlet to battle Doctor Doom.
With Namor’s assistance, he even makes use of his title as “King of the Dead” to take command of the legions of Marvel Zombies hiding behind the Shield. While taking part in the attack on Doom, Namor is quickly killed in battle, leaving Black Panther to face the villain alone. Despite coming up short in the fight, Black Panther gives Mister Fantastic just enough breathing room to locate the Molecule Man and gain the last power boost he needs to defeat Doom, save the day, and rewrite the multiverse.
Also, Read Lady Gaga’s alleged Marvel role is addressed by James Gunn in full
How Shuri Might Replace T’Challa in the Secret Wars
Shuri has assumed the role of the Black Panther now that T’Challa is canonically dead in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, even though she has temporarily abandoned her throne. She is therefore in a position to take over many of T’Challa’s comic book storylines, including his part in Secret Wars if they are adapted for the big screen. Shuri is an obvious choice for any Incursions Saga adaptation thanks to her intelligence; she could easily step in for Black Panther as the group’s leader and chief innovator.
Questions about her morality and boundaries, which were brought up during her encounter with Killmonger’s ghost in Wakanda Forever, could very well factor into her struggle with the gruesome acts the Incursion Saga demands, similar to T’Challa’s role in the original story.
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri and Namor had a complicated relationship that could easily pave the way for them to further their relationship in the run-up to Secret Wars, allowing their tensions to rise and fall as the events of Phase Five and Phase Six are resolved.
She might even be essential to reassembling the Infinity Gauntlet, giving her the chance to use it as her brother did in the original comic. This would be possible thanks to her intelligence. Shuri could easily assume the role played by T’Challa in the comics to become one of the event’s most important players if the MCU is indeed heading toward the Incursions Saga for its next major narrative.
Also, Read Marvel Midnight Suns’ Detailed Ending