The Mystery Surrounding Marvel Studios Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverThe titular new hero is finally answered in the film’s official trailer. Many speculations have been made before the release of the promo, guessing who will take on the role of Black Panther now that its original actor, Chadwick Boseman, has passed away.
Of all the theories, there can be only one clear clue as to who will take over – and that’s a woman. Many thought T’Challa’s sister, Shuri (Letitia Wright) was the rightful successor to the title. Others have also suggested it could be Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) or Okoye (Danai Gurira). Everyone has what it takes to embody the symbolic costume of the panther, but only one can wear it.
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Who plays Namor and what is his ethnicity?
Namor (Tenoch Huerta) is the main antagonist of the following film, and it’s clear that he brings chaos and war to the peaceful kingdom of Wakanda. His rivalry with Black Panther is a long-time beloved Marvel story that fans will witness in just one week. Even though it will be in a different form, it will still be as compelling and relevant as the comic book story.
Director Ryan Coogler explained to Weekly entertainment that his version of Namor is unique to wakanda forever. The origin of the villain is from Talocan, a place inspired by Mayan culture.
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In the comics, Namor is a mutant hybrid son of a mortal father and an Atlantean princess. Tenoch Huerta, the actor behind the character, is of Aztec and Purépecha descent. Winston Duke, who plays M’Baku, said in his interview with Los Angeles Time that Namor is not only “another Aquaman” and he added:
“In our version, it feels much more real than fiction. Like the MCU, we grounded it in real cultural meaning and cultural traditions. You see the Latinx contingent that is present visually. Ryan Coogler’s Creation in the Marvel Cinematic Landscape Is a Deep Honor and Connection to Real Things.”
In the long run, Namor and Black Panther’s story as a mutant and an Avenger introduces a larger and more complicated universe that Marvel has yet to explore in the future.
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New MCU Characters in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Apart from Namor, wakanda forever will also feature new characters that fans will meet soon. Michaela Coel and Dominique Thorne will join the cast as Aneka and Riri Williams, respectively.
Aneka is the first queer character in the film who we know is romantically involved with another Dora Milaje. Williams, on the other hand, is not of Wakandan descent but a teenager with a genius IQ mentored by Tony Stark. She bears the nickname Stone heart.
There will still be plenty of mysteries to uncover that won’t be answered until the movie hits the big screens. All we know is that the cast did their best to pay homage to Boseman’s legacy through the sequel.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to hit theaters on November 11, 2022.
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