On August 28th, 2020, Chadwick Boseman passed away less than two months shy of his 44th birthday, as a result of colon cancer. His most beloved role was King T’Challa/Black Panther in a series of MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) movies (2016-2021). He was also known for portraying Baseball Superstar Jackie Robinson in 42 (2013) as well as his Oscar-Nominated performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020). After his tragic passing, Marvel continued Black Panther’s story with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). This is my review.
As the nation of Wakanda mourns the death of their king, his beloved sister, Shuri faces a great deal of pressure. She grieves her brother’s death, but is also on the verge of succeeding him as Wakanda’s new Queen. Meanwhile, Wakanda itself faces a new enemy in the underwater kingdom of Talokan, led by King Namor, who is determined to throw Wakanda underwater due to a misunderstanding regarding a vibranium detector invented by the CIA. Shuri therefore has to team up with Okoye, leader of the Dora Milaje (Wakanda’s female forces), as well as a new friend, Riri Williams/Ironheart to not only fight Namor and his kingdom, but prove him wrong, all the while relying on the consistent guidance of her mother, Queen Ramonda.
This sequel offers a new perspective on the kingdom of Wakanda. It is female-dominated, whereas the first Black Panther (2018) was not. It is very easy to root for Shuri and Okoye because we admire them for their bravery and tenacity, but we also feel compassion for them as they mourn King T’Challa’s death. As they struggle to move on with their lives, along with the help of their new friend, Ironheart, we are quickly rooting for them. It is likely that most fans will miss Boseman’s reappearance, but the film pays a tribute to him in its opening and closing scenes, which provides closure as well as a nice transition to the new story.
I was disappointed by the film’s lack of humor, as well as the fact that its tribute to Boseman was only in the opening and closing scenes instead of all throughout the movie. But despite that, it was still entertaining. There was exceptional acting, a decent story, and of course, stunning visual effects.
“Wakanda Forever,” reunites the cast of Letitia Wright as Shuri, also known as the new “Black Panther,” Danai Gurira as Okoye, and Oscar-nominee Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda. The film also brings back Martin Freeman as CIA Agent Everett K. Ross. While both Freeman and Boseman appeared in the first “Black Panther,” both made their first official MCU appearances in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss also appears as CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, Ross’s former wife, and though de Fontaine appeared in the mini-series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), as well as the post-credits scene of Black Widow (2021), “Wakanda Forever,” marks de Fontaine’s first feature-length appearance. The film was directed by Ryan Coogler who directed the first “Black Panther,” and was co-written by Coogler and Joe Robert Cole. It features a new score composed by Ludwig Goransson who won the Best Original Score Oscar for scoring the first “Black Panther,” and was produced by Kevin Feige who has produced every MCU film since Iron Man (2008).
Overall, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” is a good movie. It might not be a personal favorite for any fan, but they will appreciate how the new main characters carry on Chadwick Boseman’s legacy, even though they know he can never be replaced. More than anything, this new film leaves fans echoing the cry of this new “world”: “WAKANDA FOREVER!”
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