Who Is ‘Wakanda Forever’s New Black Panther In Black Panther 2?

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ finally reveals who takes up the mantle (SPOILERS).

As a highly-anticipated sequel, Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever dives deeper into the fallout resulting from the tragic death of Wakandan king T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman). The film follows Princess Shuri (Leitita Wright), Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Dora Milaje general Okoye (Dani Guriria) and many familiar faces as they try to defend their nation against political rivals. As Wakanda takes on the underwater kingdom of Talokan, a new Black Panther is called upon.

Trailers leading up to the reveal have teased a woman wearing an updated Black Panther suit, officially confirming that someone new is donning the mantle. Replacing T’Challa is no small feat, but who decides to heed the call and become the new Black Panther? The latest Marvel movie tells all.

Spoiler alert! This article contains major spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Who is the new Black Panther? ‘Wakanda Forever’ tells all.

One year after T’Challa passes away from an undisclosed illness, Wakanda is left without a Black Panther. The heart-shaped herb used for any Black Panther successor were all burned up in the first film, and the last remaining herb was consumed by T’Challa. Upon his death, the tradition of naming a new Black Panther had apparently died with him. The military forces of the Dora Milaje are the only defense that Wakanda has against global forces who vie for their vibranium.

Queen Ramonda leads the nation, albeit without the powers of the Panther. Meanwhile, Shuri buries herself in her technology as she tries to keep the Dors armed as well as stave off her grief. But things begin to escalate when they enter conflict with Talokan, a nation of underwater warriors led by Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía). Shuri and Namor initially empathize with each other’s struggle, with the Sub-Mariner even gifting her Talokan jewelry made from a vibranium-infused plant.

However, Shuri cannot abide by Namor’s ambition to go to war with the surface world, ensuring the eventual conflict between their nations. Namor and the forces of Talokan invade Wakanda with a flood, drowning Ramonda in the process.

Spurred by grief and vengeance, Shuri uses the vibranium plant from Namor to synthesize a new heart-shaped herb. She undergoes the ritual to become the new Black Panther, and even dons a slick new suit with accents that match her Wakandan war paint.

She attains superhuman strength and agility for the ritual, but initially plans to use it to kill Namor to exact revenge. She gathers an army of Wakandan troops to fend off Talokan’s soldiers while Shuri fights Namor herself. Though she gains the upper hand and readies herself to take his life, she stops. Instead, she commands that Namor yield and offers a peaceful alliance to Talokan. Namor accepts, ending the battle between the nations.

Though there were easily many candidates who could have donned the suit, the responsibility ultimately went to Shuri as one of the last remaining members of the royal family of Wakanda.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now in theaters.