If Marvel’s standalone Black Panther movie proved one thing, it’s that the eponymous mantle is more than just one person – like Batman, it stands for a legend, one capable of striking fear in some and inspiring hope in others.
And for Ryan Coogler’s wildly successful blockbuster, it was T’Challa who followed in the footsteps of his father to become Wakanda’s loyal protector, fighting off competition from Erik Killmonger and Winston Duke’s M’Baku to control the throne.
Going forward, though, it’s looking increasingly likely that Marvel will open up the field for another MCU character to come in and succeed T’Challa as the one true ruler of Wakanda. Letitia Wright’s Shuri is the bookie’s favorite, given she’s the rightful heir, and at least according to Marvel producer Nate Moore, the Black Panther mantle won’t be bound to a single person.
One thing I like to tell Ryan is, the Black Panther is a mantle as much as it is a person, so we’re not restricted by anything, because the truth is, there’s a lot of different ways to go back to Wakanda and have a good time and continue to explore the themes that made the first film so resonant.
The question, really, is who will replace T’Challa on the throne. Chances are Avengers 4 will toy around with a similar subplot, given the fact that Chadwick Boseman’s hero was among those to perish during the finale of Infinity War. So perhaps Winston Duke’s M’Baku, leader of the Jabari, plans to take advantage of the power vacuum before T’Challa is inevitably resurrected?
We’ll find out for sure once Avengers 4 begins its rollout on May 3rd, 2019.