Even though practically every Marvel movie is a huge hit,Black Panther, stands apart for some reason. It took apart every notion about an origin tale and because of the way the movie influenced Black representation in cinema, it became an instant sensation. Writer and directorRyan Cooglergave the character his first modern big-screen outing with the kind of storytelling that allowed it to go beyond genre preconceptions and appeal to viewers from different walks of life. Critics hailedBlack Pantheras an inventive standout that offered a colorful but realistic reality, filled with socially conscious reflection. The movie doesn’t revolutionize the superhero genre so much as claims and revives it.
The firstBlack Pantherbecame a cultural sensation in addition to being a box office success and the first superhero movie to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. All of this heightens interest in the eagerly anticipatedBlack Panthersequel, but this wasn’t without its problems. Plans for the followingBlack Panthermovie saw some difficulty afterChadwick Bosemantragically passed away in 2020 after a fight with colon cancer. The cast and crew debated how to best respect the late actor’s legacy in a sequel movie that had lost its eponymous character.It was decided not to recast Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challaand to concentrate instead on the various colorful personalities of Wakanda that were presented in the first movie and see to whom the mantle could be passed.
Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverwill debut in theaters on November 11 and will be the third new Marvel Cinematic Universe movie to be released in 2022 afterDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnesson May 6 andThor: Love and Thunderon July 8. Keep reading below for a cast and character guide for one of the most anticipated movies of the year.
Editor’s Note: This article was last updated on November 9.
Related:New ‘Wakanda’ Comic Series Sees Shuri, Killmonger, and More Defend the Nation
Letitia Wright as Shuri
Letitia Wright, who made a name for herself as T’Challa’s sister Shuri inBlack Panther,is the lead in the superhero sequel. In the sequel, we find Shuri heavily grieving the loss of her brother, King T’Challa, and feeling guilty about his death. Being in charge of Wakanda’s scientific endeavors, Shuri is a remarkable inventor and a true technological genius who uses the plentiful supply of the rare metal Vibranium to benefit her nation. Her abilities to remove Bucky Barnes' conditioning, save Everett Ross from an injury that would have left him paralyzed, and develop a safer way to remove the Mind Stone from Vision are proof of her amazing skills. In case she ever has to engage in combat, the Wakandan princess has her own gauntlets that fire vibrations. The energy emanating from the mouth of these gauntlets, which are shaped like panther heads, sounds like a roaring panther.
Letitia Wright was noticed by Hollywood afterMichael Caton-Jonescast her inUrban Hymn(2015) in her first leading role. She had an appearance in theDoctor Whoepisode “Face the Raven"the same year, and the following year, she started playing Renie onHumansregularly. Wright also made an appearance at the Gate Theatre in London in the playEclipsed, which was written by her co-star,Danai Gurira. She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her work in theBlack Mirrorepisode, “Black Museum.”
Lupita Nyong’oas Nakia
The Oscar-winning artistLupita Nyong’owill reprise her role as Nakia the love interest and childhood friend of T’Challa. Since the events of the last film, Nakia has once again left the Kingdom of Wakanda, living in another part of the world, where that is and what she’s doing, you’ll just have to see the movie to find out.
Nyong’o made her movie debut in 2013’s12 Years a Slave.She won praise from critics for her subtly distressing performance of Patsey, a young slave who is routinely raped by her master (Michael Fassbender) and disparaged by his wife (Sarah Paulson). The movie, which was helmed bySteve McQueen, won an Oscar for best picture Oscar, and Nyong’o received an Oscar for Best-Supporting Actress. Nyong’o also appeared inStar Wars: The Force Awakensin 2015 as the thousand-year-old pirate Maz Kanata. She later provided the voice for the computer-animated Raksha the wolf in the live-action 2016 version ofThe Jungle Book.
Danai Gurira as Okoye
Danai Gurirawill be coming back as the fierce Okoye, the commander of the Wakandan military and intelligence, as well as the General of the Dora Milaje. Danai Gurira already has three MCU films under her belt, includingBlack Pantherin 2018 andAvengers: Infinity Warin 2019, as well as a small part inAvengers: Endgamein 2019. It only seems logical that the leader of the Dora Milaje will remain to fight the enemy during Phase 4 and beyond. The future of the MCU gains yet another intriguing character with Gurira’s return. Her Okoye will have a lot of fascinating plot lines ahead of her as she guides Wakanda and Marvel through the devastating death of Chadwick Boseman.
As the leader of the Dora Milaje, Okoye is one of themost accomplished martial artistsin Wakanda, second only to T’Challa in terms of skill and strength in hand-to-hand combat. She has trained extensively and is exceptionally proficient in a variety of combat styles. Both in close-quarters battle and at a distance, Okoye is a master at employing her Vibranium Spear. In her role as the general, Okoye is a master strategist who guided the Dora Milaje through the conflicts in Mount Bashenga, Wakanda, and Earth. Her influence and relationship with Black Panther and Wakanda are a result of her leadership.
Danai Gurira has an impressive portfolio apart from her work in the MCU. In 2012, she joined the cast ofThe Walking Dead,which is the highest-rated series in cable television history. Gurira plays the ruthless katana-wielding heroine Michonne, who joins a tight-knit group in a post-apocalyptic society. Apart from her work in films and shows, she is also a brilliant playwright and was nominated for the Tony Awards for Best Play for her playEclipsed, which is the first play with an all-female, all-black cast and creative team to have a Broadway premiere.
Angela Bassettas Queen Ramonda
Angela Bassettwill return to the kingdom of Wakanda as Ramonda, T’Challa and Shuri’s mother and the Queen Mother of Wakanda. Bassett has hinted at the overwhelming greatness of the sequel and believes it will surpass its predecessor. As Wakanda’s Queen Mother, Bassett’s Ramonda is essential in leading her nation into battle if required. Ramonda and Shuri will have to exercise even greater leadership as they seek to keep their country safe.
In the firstBlack Panther, Bassett didn’t have many action scenes since M’Baku, played byWinston Duke, kept her safe while the Wakandan Civil War was being fought by T’Challa andMichael B. Jordan’s Killmonger. While there is still a lot of uncertainty about the nature of her position and where she is in the battle action, it looks that this time things will be changing. Ramonda will be making her second complete appearance in the MCU, and Bassett seems prepared to do her best to offer her a compelling story. Fans have already seen some of Bassett’s characters engaged in combat in the animatedWhat If…?series, but the Wakandan Queen will bring those intense scenes into the live-action setting.
Bassett began her acting career in the 1980s but the role of singer Tina Turner in the 1993 biopicWhat’s Love Got to Do with It, earned Bassett an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, and marked the beginning of her successful acting career. She later went on to star in several well-received and lucrative movies, such asMalcolm X(1992) andPanther(1995) as Betty Shabazz, Voletta Wallace inNotorious(2009), and Amanda Waller inGreen Lantern(2011), and many more. Bassett has received numerous achievements, including a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe Award, seven NAACP Image Awards, and three Black Reel Awards.
Winston Duke as M’Baku
Winston Duke will play M’Baku once more, the fierce and dignified chief of the Jabari tribe of Wakanda,a group of Wakandans who have isolated themselves from society. He is an ardent critic of T’Challa’s authority and finds himself split between opposing him for the throne and supporting him in the fight against Erik Killmonger. In response to his decision to spare T’Challa’s life and collect his troops to aid in killing Killmonger in their last battle, M’Baku was granted a place on the Tribal Council for his recognition of the danger that Killmonger posed to the world. M’Baku helped the other tribes defend Wakanda from Thanos' army of Outriders. M’Baku was one of the Snap survivors and was recruited by the Masters of the Mystic Arts to assist the Avengers and take part in the Battle of Earth when the victims of the Snap were brought back to life in 2023.
As M’Baku, Duke played a prominent role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe filmsBlack Panther, Avengers: Infinity War,andAvengers Endgame. He also appeared inJordan Peele’s hugely successful horror movieUs, which came out in 2019. Duke co-starred withMark Wahlbergin the Netflix action-comedy filmSpenser Confidentialin 2020, in which he played the role of Hawk, an impulsive guy with a penchant for violence and sarcasm.
Related:‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’: Best Comics to Read Before the Highly-Anticipated Sequel
Martin Freemanas Everett K. Ross
ForBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, actorMartin Freemanwillreturn to his CIA Agent Everett Ross rolein the Marvel Cinematic Universe. InCaptain America: Civil War, Freeman detained Bucky Barnes and, towards the movie’s conclusion, Helmut Zemo (Daniel Brühl), in the role of the bureaucratic Everett Ross. Ross had been sent to find Ulysses Klaue after leaving the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre, which had brought Ross back in touch with Black Panther, who was trying to apprehend Klaue for crimes he had committed in the past. Ross, who had been fatally wounded by Erik Killmonger, was restored to health by Shuri in Wakanda, where Ross had previously learned about all the breakthroughs in technology brought on by their mining of Vibranium. He also saw Killmonger seize power while he was in Wakanda, and because T’Challa had saved his life, felt obligated to repay him by helping the Black Panther battle Killmonger’s army. Ross then helped T’Challa when he started distributing Wakanda’s real assets to the rest of the world.
Martin Freeman is a renowned English actor, well recognized for his roles of Tim Canterbury in the mockumentaryThe Office(2001–2003), Dr. John Watson in the British mystery dramaSherlock(2010–2017), Bilbo Baggins inThe Hobbitfilm trilogy (2012–2014), and Lester Nygaard in the dark comedy–crime dramaFargo’s debut season. He has received numerous honors, including an Emmy, a BAFTA, a Screen Actors Guild, and a nomination for a Golden Globe.
Dominique Thorneas Riri Williams
Dominique Thorne, the actress who will play Ironheart in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has joined the cast ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, and has quite a substantial role. A genius MIT student, Riri’s vibranium detector is what helps kick off the central plot of the film, and is soon whisked away to Wakanda. Thorne had earlier been revealed as the MCU’s Riri Williamsfor the upcoming Disney+ seriesIronheart, which will be titled after the hero.Before the debut of her self-titled series, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige stated that Thorne would make her MCU debut as Ironheart.
In the world of Marvel Comics, William is a teenage engineering prodigy who creates her variation on the Iron Man suit. She lives in Chicago with her mother and aunt after the passing of her father and manages to get herself enrolled in MIT at the age of 15. She constructs her own design of an Iron Man-inspired armor there and is approached by Tony Stark who gives her his approval. With the current storyline, there is currently no information aboutRobert Downey Jr.or Tony Stark being a part of the character’s journey in the MCU.
Thorne made her feature film debut in the 2018 filmIf Beale Street Could Talkas Shelia Hunt, the irritable younger sister of the lead character Fonny Hunt. She then portrayed Judy Harmon, a member of the Black Panther in the movieJudas and the Black Messiahin 2021.
Florence Kasumbaas Ayo
Florence Kasumbawill reprise her role as Ayo, the second-in-command of the Dora Milaje. Ayo is responsible for protecting the Golden Tribe and served as T’Chaka’s and T’Challa’s protector during their rule. However, she was compelled to accompany Erik Killmonger after T’Challa had lost a ceremonial battle to him until T’Challa eventually returned and beat Killmonger. Ayo assisted Bucky Barnes in releasing himself from his HYDRA programming followingCaptain America: Civil War. She participated in the Battle of Wakanda to help defend her country against the invasion of Thanos once it had reached Wakanda. After Barnes assisted Baron Zemo’s escape, Ayo was dispatched to deliver him to the Dora Milaje inThe Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
Florence Kasumba has made numerous film and television appearances in the Dutch, German, and English shows. She has performed in a variety of musicals includingThe Lion King, Cats, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, and many more. She was also cast to play a title role for Germany’s premiere production ofElton John’s international hit musicalAida. Kasumba voiced the character of Shenzi in 2019’s computer-animated adaptation ofThe Lion King.
Tenoch Huertaas Namor
Mexican actorTenoch Huertaportrays Namor the Sub-Mariner, the mutant leader of an undersea empire calledTalocan. One of the original mutant figures in Marvel history, the character is typically portrayed as an anti-hero with questionable morals. That seems to be the case inBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreveras well.
Huerta has largely worked as an actor in Latin America and Spain, but he has also acted in numerous American-produced films. In Netflix’sNarcos: Mexico, he portrayed Rafael Caro Quintero and has also made cameos in a few Hollywood productions, includingSpectre.
Michaela Coelas Aneka
British actressMichaela Coelhas been cast as Aneka, a member of the Dora Milaje. With the release of herI May Destroy Youminiseries on HBO Max in 2020, Michaela Coel’s spectacular journey to fame officially began. She not only wrote the series, which received four Emmy nominations, but she also produced, directed, and performed in it. Coel also has had guest appearances in two episodes ofBlack Mirroron Netflix, in addition to playing a supporting role inStar Wars: The Last Jedi.
Mabel Cadena as Namora
Mabel Cadenaplays Namora, Namor’s cousin, who also lives in Talocan, and is one of his closest and most trusted allies. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will mark Cadena first major American production, having previously acted in Mexican films and series such asMonarca,Dance of the 41,Asphalt Goddess, andIngobernable.
