There are many things running through the Hollywood pipeline of news this week, but it seems like the only thing of importance is the casting of queen Michaela Coel in the forthcoming Ryan Coogler-directed Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
If you think Marvel and the Mouse House have divulged anything about the Black Panther sequel, then you must have been born yesterday. The MCU loves to keep things under wraps so your guess is as good as mine. However, what we do know is that after the untimely death of the late, great Chadwick Boseman, Coogler respectfully sculpted the narrative in honor of the actor. The cast and Marvel boss Kevin Feige seem to agree.
In any case, as soon as Coel was announced by Variety, the masses started speculating who the talented multi-hyphenate would be playing. The first character to strike everyone’s lips: Storm. Now this would make sense to a certain extent considering the MCU will soon branch out to the X-Men universe and Storm (aka Ororo Munroe) is one of its major players. Also, Storm has a connection to Wakanda because at one point, she married T’challa. As cool as this would be, it seems too much of an obvious choice — or maybe I’m wrong. Either way, seeing Coel in the MCU kicking ass, playing a big baddie or in some sort of regal Wakandan position is enough for me.
Even though other casting hasn’t been officially announced or confirmed, it is likely that original Black Panther cast members Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, Lupita Nyong’o, Florence Kasumba and Angela Bassett are set to reprise their roles.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to hit theaters July 8, 2022.