Black Panther promised that T’Challa’s kingdom of Wakanda is going to be a major location in the future of the MCU. In fact, we’ve known since before the film even came out that the African nation would be returned to in Avengers: Infinity War, as it was seen in the first trailer for the event movie. What we didn’t know, though, is how exactly it would factor into the story.
Thanks to Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige, however, it’s now been confirmed that Wakanda will be home to the big third act of Infinity War. As part of Entertainment Weekly’s extensive coverage of the film, Feige revealed the news when he was asked how heavily the country will feature.
“That’s the grand Marvel Studios/MCU tradition of just being all in, right? All in on stuff we believe in, before the audience tells us what they think. You’ve heard us talk ad nauseam about the fact that we were in production on Avengers before either Thor or Captain America was released. Same thing with the whole third act of Infinity War being in Wakanda.”
This is somewhat surprising, as the trailers have also shown us footage from an apparent battle on an alien world – which has recently been confirmed to be Titan, Thanos’ homeworld. You’d think this exotic location would be saved until the end of the movie, but apparently, that’s not the case.
While Feige wouldn’t spill any further details, we do know some of the circumstances surrounding the Wakandan conflict. Apparently, Steve Rogers will choose the nation as a hiding place for Vision, who’s at extreme risk thanks to having the Mind Stone lodged in his cranium. Fans had theorized that the battle happens because Wakanda is actually home to the Soul Stone, but there’s nothing to corroborate that rumour yet.
Finally, Feige went on to say that Wakanda will become an “anchor point” for the MCU in the future, replacing other familiar locations that have been retired – such as Thor’s homeworld of Asgard that was destroyed in Ragnarok. In other words, expect to see much more of the country in Phase Four.
Touted as an event movie that’s unlike any other, we’ll be able to find out what all the fuss is about once Avengers: Infinity War descends upon theaters on April 27th. The fourth, so-far untitled Avengers movie will then release in May of 2019, by which point viewers will be acquainted with Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers and her ’90s-set origin story. March 8th, 2019 is the date for your diaries.
