In the movie “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the director and the creative team are directly addressing the death of Chadwick Boseman by incorporating his character’s death, T’Challa, into the sequel. However, this raises unanswered questions about who will take his place and what will happen to his onscreen legacy. Additionally, the impact of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s multiversal timeline may shape the future of the character and the overall storyline.
The credits scene in “Wakanda Forever” provides hints and clues, if not definitive answers, regarding the unresolved questions surrounding the future of the franchise.
Towards the end of the film, Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, is seen alone on a beach in Haiti. She is performing a ceremonial act by burning robes to pay tribute to her deceased brother, T’challa. During her visit, Nakia, portrayed by Lupita N’yongo, approaches her with a young boy named Toussaint. Shuri is taken aback when she learns that the child is her nephew and that he is being introduced as Prince T’challa, the son of the late King T’challa.
The revelation of Toussaint being introduced as Prince T’challa, the son of the late King T’challa, may come as a surprise to both fans and Shuri. This unexpected development has sparked speculation and theories among fans. The implications of this revelation remain uncertain and open to interpretation.
Toussaint/T’Challa also shares a name with a legendary real-life warrior. François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture was a historical figure who played a significant role in Haitian history. He was an ex-slave who became a prominent leader during the Haitian Revolution. His leadership and military skills were instrumental in achieving Haiti’s independence from French colonial rule and abolishing slavery in the region. Toussaint Louverture’s legacy is that of a national hero and a symbol of resistance against oppression.
‘Wakanda Forever’ contains a clue about the timeline of his birth. In the movie, Nakia expresses regret for not participating in the fight against Thanos. During the five-year period between “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Endgame,” it is possible that Prince T’Challa could have grown to his current age and size. Nakia’s pregnancy and responsibility of raising a young future ruler in a hidden location provide a valid reason for her to prioritize their safety over engaging in battles against extraterrestrial threats.
There’s a comic-book backstory here. In Marvel Comics, there are two children of the Black Panther. The first is Azari T’challa T’chacka Evan Duke, who is the son of T’challa and Storm from the X-Men. Azari possesses his father’s heightened senses and strength, as well as his mother’s ability to control electricity. In the comics, Azari is part of a group called the Next Avengers, which consists of other children of current Avengers. The second child is Kymera, who is a mysterious daughter of Storm. While her exact connection to the Black Panther/T’challa is not fully explained, she possesses a giant glowing panther companion, enhanced senses, and fighting abilities, showing some similarities to her father.
And a multiverse connection. Both Azari and Kymera in Marvel Comics are indeed from alternate timelines, which might make their direct connection to the upcoming Black Panther story in the MCU unlikely. However, given the established ability to bring characters from different realities together, as shown in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” anything is possible. The concept of the multiverse opens up the possibility for characters from different timelines to interact and be part of the same narrative, so it cannot be ruled out entirely in the future of the Black Panther franchise.
What we do know is that with Shuri and Toussaint, the legacy of the Black Panther will live on.
