‘Wakanda Forever’ writer CONFIRMS M’Baku and Nakia were considered to become the NEW 'Black Panther'
The last movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4, 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' has been running in theaters for over a week now and has been a glorious success. It is no secret now that Letitia Wright's Shuri is the new 'Black Panther' replacing Chadwick Boseman after his untimely death due to colon cancer in 2020. However, from the start, it was not always the plan that Boseman's onscreen sister would be taking up the eponymous superhero after the actor's death. Regardless, audiences are extremely happy with the creator's final decision as the titular character was inherited by Letitia Wright's Shuri.
The film has been very well received by the audiences and the critics because of the movie's emotional weight, Rihanna's musical score, and its tributes to Boseman, although the runtime received some criticism. The film has grossed over 561 million dollars worldwide, becoming the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2022. Although, it was not unexpected that the film would do good as the sequel has been one of the highly anticipated movies ever since its predecessor was released, back in 2018.
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In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Screenwriter Joe Robert Cole confirmed to the outlet that other characters were considered in the writers' room as potential 'Black Panther' replacements.
He said, "We would kick around the ideas, and try to extrapolate where the story goes and what’s the most impactful choice - what’s the best journey?” “And where do you go after the film in terms of those characters? M’Baku certainly was someone that got kicked around a little bit.”
Cole said Shuri was an easier decision since the character does become the new 'Black Panther' in the Marvel comic books. “There’s a natural organic-ness, I guess is the best way to say it, to her becoming Panther (because of what happens in the comics),” he said. “But you kick the tires on all sorts of ideas. And you just want to make the best decision and do what’s best for the story.”
Furthermore when the interviewer asked the writer about the chances of Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong’o, would’ve been a great choice for the new 'Black Panther,' Cole responded, “That got kicked around! Her name got kicked around for sure.” Although it did not happen because the story needed Nakia to be in Haiti with T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) son.
Regardless, the film has earned praise for Coogler's direction, the action sequences, production and costume design, and the cast's performances particularly those of Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Tenoch Huerta, and Angela Bassett. The film also showcased Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams who is an MIT student and genius inventor from Chicago who creates a suit of armor that rivals the one built by Tony Stark aka 'Iron Man.' Thorne first appeared in Phase 4's last movie, 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' before starring in the Disney+ series 'Ironheart.'