Bringing back Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) for Black Panther 2 would be a problematic move for the MCU. The Marvel villain was killed off at the end of Black Panther, which was his first and only live-action appearance. But like many characters, there’s always a chance – slim as it may be – that Marvel can find a way to make him use of him again.

In Black Panther, Marvel introduced Killmonger, an American soldier with the royal blood of a Wakandan prince. Over the years, Killmonger developed a strong hatred for Wakanda, who he blamed for not using their resources to fix the world’s problems. After heading to Wakanda to claim the throne which he believed should belong to him, a duel was initiated between Killmonger and T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman). He won the battle and temporarily replaced T’Challa as king; however, at the end of the movie, he was finally defeated in a rematch. Killmonger had a chance to be saved, but he chose death instead.

Related: MCU’s Earth Can Never Be The Same Again After Avengers: Endgame

There’s no word yet on who T’Challa will be facing in the upcoming sequel, which is still scheduled for a May 6, 2022 release. Namor the Sub-Mariner is heavily rumored and perhaps the most popular choice, but there’s still a significant portion of the Marvel fanbase hoping Jordan can somehow reprise his role as Killmonger and make a return to the MCU. After all, he was widely regarded as one of the MCU’s best antagonists. It was believed by many that with Killmonger, Black Panther avoided the MCU’s villain problem. Regardless of Killmonger’s popularity, there are several reasons bringing the character back would be a big mistake.

Black Panther 2 Can't Bring Killmonger Back From The Dead

Michael B Jordan as Killmonger in What If

Killmonger’s death was an incredibly powerful moment in Black Panther. Though a ruthless and hateful villain, he had strongly-held convictions about what the world is and what Wakanda’s place in it should be. He was angry at Wakanda and its leaders for not doing more to help people of African descent who had fallen on hard times. To Killmonger, their inaction made them culpable. Some found his beliefs to be relatable in a certain way. In the end, Killmonger was given a chance to see the sunset on Wakanda, a sight he'd dreamed of seeing since he was a child. Though he had been a thorn in T’Challa’s side the whole movie, Black Panther came to develop an understanding of Killmonger through their fight and their interactions. He even tried to save Killmonger from his fate. His remorse and the effect Killmonger’s ideals had on T’Challa were reflected at the end of the movie when he announced Wakanda would begin sharing its technology with the world.

What would it mean if Black Panther 2 somehow brought him back? Aside from the obvious problem of having it make sense story-wise, it’s important to consider that Killmonger’s death was too essential to the plot to be erased. The scene of Killmonger watching the sunset as he took his dying breaths with T’Challa at his side was laced with meaning. It was what motivated Black Panther to reconsider Wakanda’s isolationist policies, which was a huge change for their country. Marvel can’t bring Killmonger back without ruining this moment and what it meant for him, and for the future of both T’Challa and Wakanda. Furthermore, the ending of Black Panther paved the way for Killmonger to get what he wanted from Wakanda. So if Black Panther 2 did resurrect Killmonger, it’s not clear what his goal would be.

Black Panther 2 Will Struggle To Have New Killmonger Flashbacks

It’s possible that if Marvel does want to build off Killmonger’s popularity – without properly reviving him – they can accomplish this through flashbacks. This is an easy and frequently-used method for a movie to reuse a dead character, but in this case, it just wouldn’t work. Killmonger’s story in the MCU has already been told, and there’s nothing that flashbacks of his past can offer that would enhance or relate to T’Challa’s MCU story in any meaningful way.

Killmonger was raised in California, so he didn’t have a chance to spend any part of his life in Wakanda. Also, he has no prior, unexplored history with T’Challa, leaving no room for any interaction with T’Challa in flashback form. Also, it’s hard to imagine his life as a mercenary being relevant in any way to whatever story Marvel decides to tell in Black Panther 2.

Related: How Endgame's Namor Tease Can Setup Black Panther 2's Story

The Astral Plane Is The Only Way Killmonger Fits In Black Panther 2

Theoretically, Marvel could use Killmonger by employing the Astral Plane, a dimension that exists in Marvel Comics. Though it has strong ties to Doctor Strange and the mystical corner of the Marvel Universe, the MCU version of the Astral Plane has appeared in both Doctor Strange and Black Panther. It was established that the Astral Plane is a place where people can converse with the dead, but since it’s not a physical plane of existence, the only way to go there is for the soul to disconnect from the body.

In Black Panther, both T’Challa and Killmonger were able to go there by eating the Heart-Shaped Herb and going into a sleep-like state. Afterward, they were given opportunities to speak with their dead fathers. So in a sense, it’s at least possible that if T’Challa consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb again in Black Panther 2, he could speak with Killmonger.

Black Panther 2 Shouldn't Bring Killmonger Back in Any Way

While Killmonger could return through a scene in the Astral Plane, that doesn’t wouldn't make any sense for Black Panther 2. First of all, this scene would hold little significance. It’s true that Killmonger’s death was a big moment for T’Challa, but what meaning would it have for them to meet again in the Astral Plane? Killmonger was never friends with T’Challa, nor did they share a deep family connection. It would be more emotionally meaningful for T’Challa if he were to see his father or Zuri (Forest Whitaker) in the Astral Plane, rather than his former adversary.

In short, Marvel shouldn’t seek any path that would allow Killmonger to appear again in the MCU. Some aren’t satisfied with one of Marvel’s best villains being limited to one movie, but that’s not really a problem. With Killmonger, Black Panther succeeded in telling a complete story, so there’s no real need for it be continued. Leaving him dead is much better than Marvel taking a risk and potentially ruining one of Black Panther’s most memorable moments and what is arguably the best villain arc in the MCU.

More: Black Panther 2 Should Introduce MCU’s Storm (Before X-Men)

Key Release Dates