Why 'Wakanda Forever' Will be Better Than its Predecessor

A few days ago, Marvel decided to release the first trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Fans are undoubtedly hyped for the premiere of the sequel. It will be a very hard pill to swallow knowing that T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) will not be returning for the film. It does, however, have a bittersweet sentiment to the film knowing that his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) will become the next Black Panther and team up with the new Iron Man or, in this case, Ironheart (Dominique Thorne). In the trailer for the sequel, audiences see Shuri taking the throne, or at her brother T’Challa’s funeral wearing an all-white dress. We see Atlanteans under the ocean and attack the people of Wakanda. The emotions of the audience finally come to a head when Ramonda (Angela Bassett), the Queen Mother of Wakanda, goes off and says how she lost her family as the scene cuts to a mural of T’Challa. 

There is a lot to unpack in the shots we see in the trailer. However, it is painfully obvious that, as of now, Wakanda Forever is probably the most hyped movie of 2022. I’ll even go as far to say that it will probably be better than the original. Here’s why I believe all of that to be true. 

Knowing What’s Lost

As previously stated, once fans have seen the giant mural of T’Challa as drummers play a backbeat, probably at his funeral, it will be hard knowing that we will never see his Panther on screens again. It’s probably a cinematic loss but it might make the film even more emotional knowing the loss. His presence, or lack thereof, will be more impactful than that of the first film. 

T’Challa’s earnestness and energy were felt from his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War to Endgame. A day will never go by when fans don’t think long and hard about the hero in the costume. Fans will quickly be moved at the shift in the guard. 

New Stories to be Told in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Despite the addition of T’Challa, there is still much to be told, with regards to Shuri who will most likely take up the mantle of the Black Panther. Her story has obviously expanded since the first film and it will be a sight to behold once fans finally see her take on the villainous Namor. 

In the first film, Shuri was a supporting character that was primarily used for comic relief and emotional support. She was the sidekick to T’Challa and was his go-to woman for new technology and gadgets. She was basically the one-stop Best Buy. With T’Challa no longer in commission, Shuri has the opportunity to run Wakanda in her own way, probably with some changes to the suit, technology and order to the Wakandan people. 

Only time will tell what this new Black Panther and movie will show us with all of the old and new elements of the superhero craft integrated.