Before Infinity War in 2018, Marvel Studios debuted their film adaptation of Black Panther, directed by a fresh off of Creed Ryan Coogler. Starring Chadwick Boseman as the title character's altar ego T'Challa, it was a thoughtful, exciting, and progressive step forward for the MCU driven by its mostly black cast. A cultural milestone, that even severed from the larger universe was still a great movie. It's no surprise then why it was a massive hit with audiences, who gravitated to its characters, as well as the sweeping world of Wakanda. It's also not a surprise that Marvel courted Coogler back for an inevitable sequel with the cast returning.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck before the movie was able to roll cameras. In August of 2020, Chadwick Boseman passed away after his battle with colon cancer, at the far too young age of 43. It was a devastating loss, and amidst the grief, many began to wonder "what becomes of Black Panther then?" Choosing not to recast the role and reconfiguring the sequel from scratch, Marvel and Coogler unveil the sequel, Wakanda Forever, to not only move the world forward, but act as tribute to their late friend. And while understandably a step down from its predecessor, that makes it no less a worthy and strong follow-up with genuine heft.
The sovereign nation of Wakanda mourns the death of King T'Challa, leading his mother Queen Ramonda (Angela Basset) to ascend to the throne. As competing nations make a play to acquire Wakanda's Vibranium, with the nation itself housing the largest deposit of the metal on Earth, the Wakandan warriors find themselves facing off against the people of the secret underwater empire Talokan, led by the powerful Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia), who's people refer to him as the Feathered Serpent God. With the combined forces of Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright), Dora Milaje warrior Okoye (Danai Gurira), Wakandan spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), and inventor prodigy Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), the nation must rise up and band together to fight Namor's forces.
Let's address the elephant in the room: Boseman himself. Wakanda Forever will always be the ultimate "What If" of the MCU, and how it changed after his passing. He was a mighty presence as T'Challa, blessing it with a regal and ferocious, but humble and eloquent presence, a noble character who stood righteously with his emphasis on the power of compassion over violence. Something even Marvel's own "What If...?" playfully jabbed, considering he was able to single-handedly talk Thanos out of genocide. And Boseman himself was significant in carving out that place for the character, so recasting would feel like disregarding his contributions, but also invite unfair comparisons to whoever replaced him. He gave this role its soul and power, and you can't just sweep that under the rug. So while it is sad knowing the speeches he would never get to give, I think the direction this film takes in retiring him is better off for it.
That said, even without him, the spirit of Boseman still lingers over the movie. The filmmakers know you won't forget about him, and the movie itself doesn't want you to. There is this inevitable void in his absence, and so the beauty of the movie, of characters trying to pick up the pieces and carry on, pondering what comes next, fuels a lot of the raw emotional strength of the film. This is especially felt, given that for a Marvel film, the humor is actually quite downplayed and the mood more somber. But it isn't all grief. There's also celebration to the things that T'Challa inspired, and the hope that his actions and beliefs would instill. This idea that despite his absence, this world can still heal even amidst division. Honestly, that's something that we NEED to hear in this climate. So while the film may be imperfect and messy (and yes, I'll get to that), I'll still stand by this movie. Because that through line works, and it delivers with complete satisfaction.
But outside of that tribute, the passing of T'Challa has clearly rocked his surviving family. Without a ruler, his mother Ramonda has stepped up to reclaim the throne as Queen, as Wakanda stands in a very vulnerable place, even leading to other nations and mercenary forces striking Wakandan outreach facilities for their Vibranium, such as in the film's terrific first action set-piece. With this, Ramonda is ready to take a more active, defensive stance to ward off would be coup attempts, ready to move even if she is willing to discuss and reason. It's a huge boon for Angela Bassett, who was somewhat sidelined in the original film, but is given full command of the scene when focus is devoted to her, struggling to keep collected even as the loss surrounding her keeps adding up and taking its toll.
The loss also takes a toll on Shuri, played again by Letitia Wright. She was an absolute scene stealer in the original film, now being given a substantial expansion, and seizing it firmly. As well she should, given Shuri becomes something of a main character in this movie. Shuri is rocked all throughout the movie, feeling personally responsible for what happened to T'Challa, to the point of burying herself in her science to cope with her grief. Perhaps born out of some belief that by pushing herself, she can eventually feel at peace. So Shuri, and by extension Wright, does end up shouldering the most complicated arc of the film, as she evolves from this impatient girl scoffing at tradition, to a powder keg of boiling emotion, to trying to embody ideals of unity and compassion set by her ancestors, and all the messy feelings in-between to try and find her own identity.
And once again, Ryan Coogler handles all of that emotional baggage well. Coogler is a terrific force, an at once adept artist with a precise eye for visual detail, but specifically for his ability to set a mood. His somber mind frame and tributes to Boseman are one thing, but like the first film, it's his more weighty themes driving the narrative that give it real heft. Continuing on from the original film's hallmarks of misuse of deadly force, and the still lingering effects of Colonialism and appropriation carried on to this day, has to also touch on our modern fears of nuclear warfare, and systematic destabilization driven by fear and violence, which I'm sure was incidental, but it feels oddly prescient.
However, one area where the sequel doesn't measure up is its villain. The first film made memorable use of Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger, who directly opposed T'Challa as the Malcolm X to his Dr. King, and even directly impacted the latter's viewpoint despite his extremism. It's just a shame that the sequel doesn't have quite that strength, despite the best efforts of Tenoch Huerta Mejia's Namor, a demigod among his species of underwater warriors. They do get a killer introduction, infiltrating an ocean carrier by luring sailors off deck by way of siren calls. This is actually quite a horrifying entrance, perhaps made even more so by the sheer brutality of their species in combat. And yet, the world of Talokan - an underwater civilization of Mayan influence - does make a visually impressive showcase, as well as lend empathy to the regular townsfolk populating its waters, itself a potential target for the acquisition of its Vibranium.
That said, I do find them inconsistent, specifically in tone and continuity. In one scene, Okoye takes on the might of several water warriors, who despite her best efforts prove very hard to kill. And yet, in a later scene with Nakia, they go down with what feels like less effort. In turn, you do wonder "Well, what are their limits, exactly?" The film even feels unsure of how we're meant to feel about them, specifically Namor. To Mejia's credit, he plays it more as an antihero than a villain. He feels like a threat, albeit a tragic figure who tries to be reasonable. He's not too different to Shuri as a man who lost everything, driven by fear to protect his people, and he feels genuine in how he portrays his emotional beats. The problem is on a scene to scene basis, as sometimes he feels less nuanced and more overtly villainous, as evidenced by his own kingdom egging him on like a tyrant at times. Vengeance also becomes a key theme, even being a primary motivator and cautionary tale of wanton violence that will never satisfy. I do appreciate the film trying to find a more intimate and peaceful approach such as this, even if I think it sometimes undercuts that stance.
Despite the subtitle, Wakanda also slips to the sidelines at times, as the film goes on a more global scale, and so returning characters do make a mark, but have to wait a lengthy term for their chance to shine. Lupita Nyong'o takes until the end of the first act to appear, still putting in the effort despite it. Ditto for Danai Gurira, despite the film downgrading her after the first hour, and doing her a disservice. Winston Duke's M'Baku perhaps has just over ten minutes of screen time, and I feel like there was more for this character to do. But at least he makes the most of what he's given, unlike Martin Freeman who is barely in the movie, serving as glorified exposition piece.
So it's not hard to see why, even at a hefty 161 minutes, the movie feels overstuffed. Or at least it's focus isn't equal to all its pieces. And yes, I know this is gonna sound stupid, but I thought the Marvel influence was too pronounced here. Despite having to fit within the larger shared universe, the original Black Panther felt like an entity unto itself, where Coogler could reinvent the wheel if he wanted. He continues to do as well here, but he feels even more burdened by what the studio insists upon him. Key in this is Riri Williams, played by a vigorous Dominique Thorne. I do actually like this character, and I think she makes for a magnetic presence, but she feels like the most overt Marvel inclusion here, given that her Ironheart alter ego is reminiscent of Iron Man, with this sequel even making direct references to the original Iron Man.
Not that Coogler doesn't still make his stamp known. His way with action and his use of extended takes still serve him well, even if there is some familiarity, including a chase through Cambridge that draws from the Busan car chase of the first. And even if it isn't always the focus, the world of Wakanda is still a sight to behold, a wonderful creation that you could only wish to stand in. The set design, cultural touches, the lived in villages, and especially the costuming are gorgeous to lay eyes on. Ensuring that even with the Marvel mold to fulfill, it still feels home brewed to fit Coogler's style and artistic eye.
Alas, not all the techs are seamless. The original film deservingly earned some flak for some pretty ropey CGI, particularly the ending fight between T'Challa and Killmonger, which consisted of two rubbery men swatting at each other. Thankfully the sequel improves its CGI showcase (if sometimes unpolished), with the world of Talokan standing as one of the more stunning big screen spectacles. But during the climax, it's clear the filmmakers haven't entirely learned their lesson, as some of the acrobatics in the scene do look goofy and dated, at times cutting to digital doubles, as if certain actors were unable to handle the fight choreography.
But even for its faults, Wakanda Forever is still a strong showing within the MCU. The return on investment may not be as strong, and yes, despite only two credited screenwriters, outside forces could have certainly had an influence on its turnout. But on the whole, this movie still hits the ground running, paying satisfying tribute to an old friend, while pushing forward its universe and standing apart with its own unique identity. It couldn't have been an easy reconfiguration, and I'm sure we'll always mourn the sequel we lost in addition to its leading man, but this movie still delivers on its promises of catharsis and excitement. So for all its imperfections, I'm sure its target audiences will come away not caring, because the emotional pull of the film is Just. That. Strong.
Be at peace, great King...
**** / *****
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