Marvel's new film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, faced a major challenge when its main character tragically passed away. The sudden death of Chadwick Boseman on Aug. 28, 2020 left them with a major gap that would be impossible to fill.
The film is quite a tribute to Boseman's T'Challa character, especially as brother to Suri (Letitia Wright) and king of Wakanda. More than that, it is a tribute to Chadwick Boseman the human being. From the first moment, Boseman is present at all times in the film despite his absence.
The film's opening pays homage to the the actor by having the iconic Marvel Studios intro only include clips featuring Boseman. But even as the movie progresses, it becomes clear that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is really a thank you letter from Marvel and Disney to Boseman.
Minority representation
The company is aware that Boseman's Black Panther was monumental for the representation of black people in the film world. Thousands of black people were drawn to movie theaters and thrilled to see a superhero film starring someone who looks like them.
The film also gives visibility to Latinos, the country's largest ethnic minority, with Namor ( Tenoch Huerta), the film's main villain. The character's development was one of the highlights of the film is increasing, and it's clear that he's a character that's here at Marvel to stay.
The relationship Namor has with Suri, the undisputed protagonist of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, is also worth analyzing. She is unable to overcome the grief caused by the death of her brother, and Namor takes advantage of her - or so it seems. The relationship between the two of them will surely be explored in the upcoming films in what are known as phases five and six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Series and movies connection
The attempt to bridge these aforementioned phases is one the movie's weak spots. It serves to introduce a phase five series, Ironheart, which will air next year, but the plot itself doesn't seem to advance Marvel's long-term plans on the cinematic side of things.
This is a problem for many fans. It is becoming increasingly clear that, in order to follow the entire MCU, it will be necessary to watch the series that Marvel creates for Disney Plus. Not everyone can afford the $80 a year it costs, especially those already paying for other platforms.
However, upon leaving the cinema, audiences will surely desire to know more about Riri Williams, the protagonist-to-be of Ironheart played by Dominique Thorne. Her introduction in the film is riveting and proves, once again, that Marvel knows how to make us empathize with its heroes, both old and new.
Will there be 'Black Panther 3'?
The film hints that the saga may continue. The usual post-credits scene opens the door to Black Panther 3, an installment in which we hope to see more of Okoye (Danai Gurira), who did not shine on screen as much as she did in the first film.
It is clear that the sequel to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality. The introduction of Namor and other characters make this possible, regardless of the other films and series in which they appear. If Black Panther: Wakanda Forever proves anything, it's that the story of Wakanda and Black Panther has a lot left to be told. But as far as the saga goes into the future, it should always remember its hero of the past, Chadwick Boseman.
