The wait is over. The long-awaited sequel to Marvel’s 2018 box office smash, Black Panther, is on its way to theaters and audiences. Marvel has released the trailer to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever at San Diego Comic-Con. The official synopsis can also be viewed below.
The trailer shows that the movie will be set in a world where T’Challa is not present. The trailer shows Queen Ramonda making a powerful statement under pressure. We see familiar and new faces as tensions increase, such as Tenoch Huerta’s first glimpse at Namor.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is Marvel’s official return to Wakanda after Black Panther captured our hearts and imaginations in 2018. Chadwick Boseman plays T’Challa the Prince of Wakanda who holds the title of Black Panther. T’Challa struggled to accept his status as King of Wakanda (a futuristic, hidden country in Africa). T’Challa must make a difficult decision when Killmonger, a terrorist, plans to launch a global takeover.
The Legacy of Black Panther
Black Panther was an important milestone for Marvel Studios. Not only was it the first official MCU title with a black majority cast, but it was also the first MCU title with a Black director, Ryan Coogler (2015’s Creed). Coogler and Joe Robert Cole are also responsible for the script. Alongside Boseman’s T’Challa role were Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Guerra, Martin Freeman and Daniel Kaluuya.
To say that Black Panther was an instant hit would be an understatement. On its opening weekend, the $200 million film grossed over $242 million over its four-day President’s Day opening weekend. It was not only the most successful President’s Day opening but also the biggest opening weekend ever for a Black director, and a majority Black cast. It earned $1. 348 billion at the box office, currently it takes up spot number thirteen on Boxofficemojo’s most successful films! It was also well-received by critics and audiences alike. They praised it for its writing, action, representation, and expansion of MCU. It was nominated seven times for academy awards, including Best Picture. Three of the three winners went home with it. The film has since won an impressive 90 awards across multiple organizations.
With such success and culture impact, Marvel has felt the need to figure out how to follow up. Plans were going smoothly until August 2020, when the world lost Chadwick Boseman to colon cancer. It was a devastating loss that caused the media to talk about whether it would make sense for T-Challa to be recast. Production began in summer 2021 and was the subject of multiple hiatuses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finally wrapping in late March 2022.
During the production of the Wakanda forever ,, fans were excited about what was to happen to their beloved hero. There have been rumors and leaks about the movie, but cast members and crew made it very clear that they will be living up to Boseman’s legacy during this panel. Ryan Coogler paid tribute to Boseman during his panel appearance.
” I promise that you can feel his hand on your shoulder right now .”
Will Hakanda Forever stand up to the legacy left by Black Panther ? Audiences won’t have to wait for much longer when the film finally hits theaters November 11th, 2022!
