New images from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever highlight M'Baku (Winston Duke), Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), and some of the sequel's new characters. Marvel Studios and director Ryan Coogler decided to move forward with plans for a Black Panther sequel after Chadwick Boseman's passing in 2020. Without T'Challa, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's story was reshaped to give bigger roles to some of the franchise's other characters. It is widely expected that Shuri (Letitia Wright) will play a prominent role in the sequel, as well as M'Baku, Nakia, Ramonda (Angela Bassett), and Okoye (Danai Gurira).
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The story of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will see the aforementioned characters become entangled in a war once Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and his underwater kingdom of Talocan enter the MCU. Namor is one of the many new characters who will factor heavily into the sequel, as the mutant's introduction also comes with Namora (Mabel Cadena) and Attuma (Alex Livinalli). Wakanda will receive some additional support in its war as Black Panther 2 brings Riri Williams a.k.a. Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) into the picture. The sequel also expands the Dora Milaje's ranks to introduce Aneka (Michaela Coel).
Thanks to new official images for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, there are great new looks at many of the sequel's characters. Originally published in the newest edition of Empire Magazine, which featured Black Panther 2 on the cover, there are six new photos. They include M'Baku standing in his full armor, director Ryan Coogler with the Dora Milaje, Riri Williams with Ramonda in the Wakanda throne room, Aneka in an undisclosed location, Nakia protecting Riri Williams, and Nakia dressed in all white.
Wakanda Forever Could Repeat Black Panther's Oscars Success
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever photos and their incredible costumes could help Marvel repeat Black Panther's Oscars success. The original movie earned costume designer Ruth E. Carter an Oscar win for her detailed designs. After delivering some of the MCU's best costumes already, it seems Carter is looking to top her own work in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. M'Baku's new costume looks especially great, while the all-white look for Nakia seems to be tied to T'Challa's funeral scene. And while he is not shown in any of these images, Namor's MCU look already has a lot of fans. As long as these costumes look as good in theaters as they do in the pictures, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could help bring Carter another Oscar.
There is also the possibility for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever to be even more successful as an MCU movie at the Oscars. The first movie received seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and won three: Costume Design, Original Score, and Production Design. Black Panther 2 could similarly contend in these categories, while another Best Picture nomination and Best Director for Ryan Coogler is not out of the cards if the movie turns out to be special. Some pundits even have predicted Bassett will get a Supporting Actress nomination or even win. With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's emotional story and development, it will be fascinating to see if the Oscars will respond as positively to the sequel.