A new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer reveals not one, but two Black Panther helmets.

After Chadwick Boseman tragically passed away due to colon cancer in 2020, returning Black Panther director Ryan Coogler and his co-writer Joe Robert Cole reworked the sequel to honor the late actor and his incredible legacy as T’Challa.

Just as audiences are still coming to terms with Boseman’s untimely death, the sequel will find the people of Wakanda mourning King T’Challa’s passing as they protect their nation from invading forces led by Namor, the King of Talocan.
In an effort to honor Boseman’s legacy as T’Challa, Wakanda Forever will pass his Black Panther mantle on to another character to carry.

The most likely candidate is Shuri, who as T’Challa’s younger sister is his natural successor. Not only did Shuri become the Black Panther in the comics, but leaked LEGO sets have suggested the MCU will follow suit.

Wakanda Forever footage has also revealed a female Black Panther equipped with Shuri’s Vibranium gauntlets, suggesting Marvel is no longer concerned about hiding that Shuri is the new Black Panther.

Now, some new footage has arrived suggesting there is more to the story of T’Challa’s successor. Marvel recently shared a new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer titled “Time” that, at the 0:28 mark, reveals a glimpse of two Black Panther helmets side-by-side. Watch the new trailer above.

By revealing the two helmets, the new Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer supports the theory that T’Challa will have multiple successors in the sequel. The fan theory actually started as a result of comments from Lupita Nyong’o and Danai Gurira. The Wakanda Forever stars suggested that fans haven’t guessed the new Black Panther correctly, saying “They’re not getting all of it right.” With Shuri almost certainly being the next Black Panther, this would suggest there might be other characters donning the suit in the forthcoming sequel.

Other than Shuri, Nakia is another Black Panther candidate given how close she was to T’Challa as well, though people shouldn’t count out Okoye as a possibility either. Having multiple successors in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would be an interesting creative decision since audiences are mostly expecting one. Also, it would add some thematic significance to the sequel, suggesting that after T’Challa’s death, instead of trying to replace him, the Black Panther becomes a symbol that multiple characters can inhabit, and any Wakandan can aspire to. With early Black Panther: Wakanda Forever reactions praising the film for its moving story, perhaps the answer to this mystery will prove to be more impactful than anyone could’ve predicted. (source: screenrant.com)

(ROHN ROMULO)