As Black Panther: Wakanda Forever looms close, much of the speculation concerning the film revolves around who will step in the shoes of Chadwick Boseman to replace King T’Challa as Black Panther with some Funko collectibles perhaps giving the best clue so far.
That is because a new photo posted by an Anaheim Funko Pop store, shared via Marvel News, reveals who just might be the person in the black and gold Black Panther suit seen towards the end of Wakanda Forever’s first trailer. Up until now, Letitia Wright’s Shuri has always been the leading candidate to pick up the mantle, especially considering the character already temporarily took over her brother in the Black Panther comics.
The leaked Funko Pop all but confirms that idea, as the figurine bears the same black and gold colors seen in the trailer but also sports a replica of Shuri’s distinctive face paint that she’s worn when suiting up for battle in the first Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War. The white detailing features the same dotted lines running up the mask’s forehead, as well as the ones that arch over the eyebrows with only the art below the eyelids missing in the toy, although the box packaging only refers to the character as Black Panther.
When the trailer for Wakanda Forever came out, most fans and Marvel experts pointed out that the figure seen in it resembled a slimmer more traditionally female physique, perhaps confirming a woman would assume the role, although others noted that it looked bulkier than Wright. While Wright underwent a rigorous training program to prepare for Wakanda Forever and seems more muscular in the trailer, there’s also a chance that it’s another woman wearing the suit instead of her.
One of the main qualms some people have with Shuri becoming Black Panther is that it would clash with her duties as the MCU’s new leading inventor now that Tony Stark is gone, a role that is hinted at in the shared scenes with Shuri and Ironheart, aka Riri Williams. This theory would also rule out any hopes fans have of seeing Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger return as Black Panther, though again, there’s a chance the facepaint could be a design Shuri put in the suit, rather than an outright indicator that it is her under the mask.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is scheduled to release in theaters on November 11, 2022.
Source: Marvel News|Twitter