A few weeks before its exclusive theatrical release, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever released a new trailer that showed some new scenes from the film. Also what could be the announcement of a more careful exploration of the life and customs of the fictional country of Africa. Quite a novelty that could expand the argument to new regions beyond the original story.
As if that weren’t enough, he revealed brief details about mortuary rites and the reconfiguration of power after the king’s death. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will pay tribute to the memory of actor Chadwick Boseman, is Marvel’s first to address the subject of death directly. Differently from how he raised Tony Stark’s sacrifice, the franchise will analyze the duel and mourning as central points. In turn, it will explore the impact of T’Challa’s absence on his people and culture.
Lastly, the storyline will include details about the sea kingdom of Talocan, its inhabitants, and Namor, called “the plumed serpent” in the trailer. Which makes it clear that the script will delve into the identity of the second mutant in the Marvel film saga.
An identity that, in addition, relates him directly to Mexican mythology. With several narrative lines that converge with each other, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has the complicated responsibility of showing scenarios in parallel. We tell you which are the most necessary, strange and enigmatic that the upcoming film could address.
The pain, the sorrow and the power in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
On August 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman died of serious cancer. By then, the sequel to Black Panther It was already in pre-production and its director, Ryan Coogler, had a clear plot that he wanted to develop. But the passing of his star didn’t just cause him to dismiss the story. Also that All of Marvel’s plans related to the movie will change immediately.. That included the decision not to cast another actor to replace T’Challa. Which put Coogler in a sticky situation.
On the one hand, he had to decide how to continue the story. On the other, telling the death of the king of Wakanda as an integral part of the future plot. And if that wasn’t enough, the filmmaker was dealing with pressure to rethink the concept of the original sub-franchise. The obligation became so hard that Coogler considered giving up film.
“I got to a point where I thought: I’m leaving this business,” he admitted in a interview a ew. “I didn’t know if I could do another shoot. Much less another movie Black Panther, because it hurt me a lot. I was like, ‘Man, how could I ever open up to feel like this again?’”
After months of reflection, Coogler rewrote the script. What allowed him to directly narrate the mortuary rites in Wakanda and the impact of T’Challa’s death. Some of the scenes on the subject could be seen in the most recent trailer. In particular, the procession of subjects of Wakanda dressed in white, along with some images of the late Boseman characterized as the hero, as part of the urban decoration.
According to co-writer, Joe Robert Cole, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever narrates what happened after the death of the king. At the same time, how the fictional African nation mourns the loss of its beloved leader. For the production team, the analysis of death as a real, tangible event with historical weight was of considerable importance. In the various previews, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) have been seen in pain. Also to Okoye (Danai Gurira) and M’Baku (Winston Duke), united by what seems to be an unstable and complicated situation, after the sensitive loss.
“The movie is very much about how you move forward while dealing with a tragic loss,” producer Nate Moore told ew. “All the characters, both old and new, deal with (death) and how it can affect your actions in surprising and emotional ways.”
New decisions for a country in the midst of disaster
But also, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever poses a reconfiguration of power in Wakanda and its situation in front of the outside world. According to Coogler, the action takes place immediately after the events of end game and T’Challa’s death. In combination, both situations originally reconstruct the way in which Wakanda is understood as a region and world power within the Marvel universe.
According to Coogler, each character deals with what happened differently. M’Baku leads the Jabari tribe, while assuming a stronger leadership in Wakanda. For his part, Okoye remains “fiercely loyal to his country.” But, the leading role will be played by Ramonda, who faces the death of her husband and now that of her son.
“She is the queen of Wakanda, the most powerful and technologically advanced nation in the world, but she is also a mother,” explained the actress in ew. “He is trying to keep threats to his nation at bay, lead his people and be a comfort to his daughter. Everything, in the midst of the pain of losing her son and her king. It’s a lot for her.”
About Shuri, Coogler says she “buried into her technology.” However, neither the director nor any of his actors revealed whether T’Challa’s sister will be the one to finally wear the Black Panther suit. For now, it is only clear that the princess will have a more active, important and consistent role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Also, that it will be the face of a Wakanda that seeks to establish a dialogue with a “new generation of heroes.”
Black Panther: Wakanda Forevera threat that comes from the ocean
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will feature the underwater kingdom of Talocan, whose leader, Namor, is the second mutant in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For Coogler, the character is quite a discovery. “He’s always been really amazing and charismatic, but also arrogant,” the filmmaker explained. “He’s kind of a wretch, a little romantic and incredibly powerful.”
For the occasion, the character who debuted in Marvel Comics in 1939 will have the same appearance as his paper version. As seen in the most recent preview of Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverHe has pointed ears and wings on his ankles. A novelty that also relates the character to a version directly related to Mexican culture.
Namor will be played by Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta. For the interpreter, it is the opportunity to show all the facets of a classic Marvel antihero. “Perhaps the most important twist of the character is that he is not a selfish person,” he explained. “He is taking care of a community. He is not an individualist. He is part of a tribe.”
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In his comics version, Namor rules the kingdom of Atlantis. But Coogler and Marvel decided to rename the mythical place as Talocan and place the civilization in Mesoamerican regions. Production designer Hannah Beachler reimagined the underwater empire in every possible detail. “We did a deep dive because we wanted to do it right,” says Beachler. “I think this is going to be the coolest Atlantis you’ve ever seen. Without a doubt, with Ryan Coogler at the helm, it will be special.”