A new piece of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever concept art featuring Nakia, Shuri, and Queen Ramonda paying tribute to T'Challa was on display at the 2022 D23 Expo. Lupita Nyong'o, Letitia Wright, and Angela Bassett reprise the roles they first portrayed in 2018's Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is scheduled to be released on November 11th, 2022.
In Wakanda Forever, the titular country is in a state of mourning following the loss of its king and heroic protector, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), after the film's original plans were altered following the untimely passing of Boseman. With T'Challa's death, not only are those close to him forced to grapple with his loss and who will succeed him, but must handle Wakanda's new place in the global political landscape as forces set their sights on the nation's Vibranium. While the characters of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will have to face threats like Tenoch Huerta's King Namor, a recently displayed piece of artwork has teased the film's more emotional storylines.
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A new piece of concept artwork was displayed at the Marvel Studios booth at D23 that highlights the cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The artwork features portraits of Nakia, Shuri, and Queen Ramonda in their new costumes from the upcoming film as they close their eyes and recreate the "Wakanda Forever" salute, paying tribute to T'challa. Behind the three characters is an image of T'Challa's Black Panther costume across a purple background. Check out the artwork below.
With Boseman's passing in 2020 shocking both fans and those involved in the film, Wakanda Forever features tributes to both the character and actor. As seen in the film's first teaser, a mural of T'Challa has been painted on a building, with a message reading "The king lives and the panther… forever in us…" written behind it in the Wakandan alphabet. The cast of Wakanda Forever has also been open about how they handled Boseman's loss on set, with Danai Gurira revealing that new cast members Dominique Thorne and Michaela Coel had helped them work through the more difficult moments when filming scenes for the sequel.
With both returning and new cast members sharing their admiration for Boseman, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is shaping up to be a respectful tribute to both Boseman and T'Challa. As such, the newly revealed piece of concept artwork is a good representation of the tone that the film seems to be aiming to achieve, emphasizing that T'Challa's passing and the impact it has on those who loved him will be key to the film. While Black Panther: Wakanda Forever may feature the debut of new elements like Namor and Atlantis that expand the MCU, the concept art emphasizes that the film will prioritize telling an emotional, respectful tribute to not only one of the franchise's biggest heroes but to one of its most beloved cast members.