'Wakanda Forever' examines grief and rage in a powerful way

A stunning tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” begins with the death of his character, T’Challa. Desperate to save her brother from the illness that has consumed him, a frantic Shuri (Letitia Wright) flits around her science lab, attempting to unearth the antidote that might save the Wakandan king. Tragically, her efforts are fruitless. Before the opening credits roll on the film, a despondent Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) tells her last living child, “Your brother is with the ancestors.”

The real-world trauma of Boseman’s shocking death from colon cancer in August 2020 collides with the aftermath of his character’s passing in “Wakanda Forever.” It’s an action-packed film full of grief, rage and the towering burden of legacy. His spirit stands at the film’s center as director Ryan Coogler examines why rage and trauma can be both a determinant and a pillar to communities of color. 

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10 Things We Need To See In 'Black Panther 2'

It’s time to make sure your passport is valid and your most iconic Wakandan couture is starched and pressed, because the Black Panther sequel officially has the green light. Black Panther director Ryan Coogler recently signed a deal to write and direct Black Panther 2. 

The Creed filmmaker will take all of 2019 to pen the script for the highly anticipated sequel, which will head into production in late 2019 or early 2020. We're guessing that the movie will hit theaters sometime in early 2021. As we prepare ourselves for what will surely be another legendary superhero flick with a stunning, melanin-filled cast, here are 10 things that we absolutely must see when Black Panther 2 finally does hit the big screen. 

1. A larger scope of Wakanda 

Though the majority of Black Panther was set in Wakanda, the mythical East African nation that boasted everything from lush greenery to grand skyscrapers made of vibranium, much of the film was concentrated in closed spaces in T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) palace, or in other places across the globe. 

There was a glimpse of the immense scale of the country from the aerial shots inside T’Challa’s plane. We also got to see how the various traditions and tribes within the country mixed during his coronation ceremony, and when he and Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) ventured out for a walk in the marketplace. But we can't really know if Wakanda is the utopia we think it is until we see how the average Wakandan lives, outside of the palace. 

2. Responsible Tension  

You can’t have a good superhero movie without some tension and conflict, and it's possible that Wakanda's new open borders policy for refugees could be the source of that. But considering the real-life horrors of the global treatment of refugees, it's important that a film of this magnitude and impact would handle this topic with the nuance and care it deserves. One of the most pivotal aspects of Black Panther was that it presented people of the African diaspora in all of our complexities. We expect nothing less in the sequel. 

Our origins are the same; however, we have different customs, traditions and cultures. Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) had Wakandan ancestry, but he was raised in Oakland and spent his life wading through the cesspool that is American racism. The differences in experiences will surely cause some strain between native Wakandans and outsiders. 

Also, with the borders of Wakanda open, vibranium will undoubtedly become more vulnerable. So we are eager to see how Coogler and his team will handle immigration in Black Panther 2. 

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