After four long years, we finally got to see Black Panther on our screens again. Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever was released on Nov. 11, 2022.
Unfortunately, Chadwick Boseman, our beloved former Black Panther, passed away due to lung cancer in 2020. Although saddened, people were still excited and eager for the release of this film, hoping to see Black Panther‘s legacy continue.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever took fans back to Wakanda, showing them that although Chadwick Boseman is no longer with us, Black Panther lives on.
With an all-black lead cast, the film grossed $330 million at box office during its global debut. Many huge stars returned to their roles, such as Letitia Wright as Shuri, Angela Basset as Queen Ramonda, and Lupita as Nakia.
Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever now has a 94 per cent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with Dwight Brown, a top film critic, saying, “‘Wow!’ You’ll say that over and over again as this mind-blowing, superhero epic unfolds. Wow!” The blockbuster film is expected to make millions more as there has been immense positive feedback.
The 2 hours, 41-minute long film begins with the death of King T’Challa, the former Black Panther.
A year after their tragic loss, Wakanda is now ruled by Queen Romanda, T’Challa and Shuri’s mother.
Although Wakanda no longer has a superhero named Black Panther, they prove to the world that they are still strong and well protected by their female-led military.
When the Central Intelligence Agency is attacked on a mission by blue-colored, water-breathing super-beings, they suspect Wakanda is to blame. Their true ruler, and the villain of the film, is named Namor, who is played by Tenoch Huerta.
In a sad turn of events and with a new brutal villain, Wakanda is weakened, and the Queen drowns in the first battle, leaving Shuri all alone in this world.
Shuri, riddled with the desire for revenge, plots against her new foe with her many allies, showcasing immense and powerful female representation throughout the film.
Alvira Khan, a TMU business alumni, says, “I hundred percent believe that this film and the actresses are a great positive influence for younger generations; these women show strength and power, and how they lead a country without a male figure is truly inspiring and important.”
Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever mainly follows Shuri’s life as she mourns the loss of her loved ones and takes on the new roles of Black Panther and Queen of Wakanda.
The film also incorporates many aspects of black culture and heritage, such as cultural clothing, South African architecture and reference to the real-historic mino female army with Wakanda’s leading army.
The film also has beautiful computer-generated imagery. We get to see an underwater kingdom, sea creatures, and the rise of new superheroes such as Iron Heart: a continuation of Iron Man’s legacy.
Many fans were also delighted to see Michael B. Jordan reprise his role as the late Killmonger, cousin to the late King T’challa and Princess Shuri, in Black Panther 2.
The story unfolds beautifully, with many plot twists, deaths, and births of future heirs.
While many are loving the sequel so far, it still hasn’t beaten the first film. Albert Samaha, a critic from Buzzfeed News, said, “The first Black Panther… set a bar Wakanda Forever didn’t come close to matching. But taken on its own terms, as a superhero sequel tasked with serving an unusually wide range of needs, it stands as a different kind of accomplishment.”
I believe this critic phrased it perfectly, as Black Panther 2 was great, it wasn’t even close to the original film. The role of our previous Black Panther can never be fulfilled nor replaced, hence a new Black Panther played by Letitia Wright is born. The sequel’s Black Panther is a completely new and different character from the first, with her own path and morals.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s profits seem to be increasing as many are loving the new film and are pleased to see Black Panther‘s legacy continue.
