Black Panther: Wakanda Forever breaks ground for female-led superhero films, marking yet another first for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed by Ryan Coogler and released in theatres this past November, begins with his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) struggling to cope with the loss of her brother, King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) after he is killed. Shuri must assume the Black Panther role when her nemesis Namor (Tenoch Huerta) declares war on Wakanda in order to preserve her home country, restore honor to her family, and keep Wakanda safe from the threats posed by Talokan and the outside world.
Black Panther 2 may have clouded Shuri’s and the MCU’s future, but it firmly established T’Challa’s. Box Office Mojo reports that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has surpassed both Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel in domestic box office revenue. Domestically, Wakanda Forever earned $431.5 million, which is significantly higher than the $426.8 million earned by Captain Marvel, the $412.8 million earned by Wonder Woman, and the $183.65 million earned by Black Widow due to the coronavirus.
What makes Wakanda Forever so successful
In the same way that Black Panther was such a smashing success in part because of the representation it offered, so too has Wakanda Forever. While Black Panther helped bring attention to the Black community, the sequel expanded the film’s portrayal of many groups by including indigenous characters like Namor and Talokan and elevating women’s roles in the production. Box office success for Wakanda Forever can be directly attributed to its portrayal of black women in a prominent role.
Wakanda Forever is also a smash hit thanks to its compelling story and well-developed characters. Even in the event of Boseman’s tragic and unexpected death, the actors and crew expertly put together the tale of the film, and Shuri’s character arc is a prime illustration of this. In the same way that Black Panther is an ode to the African-American community, Wakanda Forever is an ode to Boseman. By providing Namor with his own story arc and the chance to see another appearance that can capitalize on his charisma and sympathetic reasons, the film manages to keep a steady pace while avoiding the standard MCU villain concerns with Namor.
Where Does Shuri Go from Here?
We don’t know where Shuri will be next after Black Panther 2. Though, as Wakanda’s official defender, she will need to make appearances in Marvel’s key events like T’Challa did. Every hero in the Marvel universe will be needed, with the Multiverse Saga in full swing leading up to Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It includes the upcoming, The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. Since Ironheart first appeared in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Shuri still have command of the Ironheart suit, she will also be able to make an appearance in the upcoming Disney+ show Ironheart. After Wakanda Forever, Shuri will definitely make another appearance and play a significant part in the future.
