M'Baku is a great candidate for taking over the mantle of Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but it can't happen, given everything that's known about him. Someone has to fill the mantle, and Winston Duke will likely have a bigger role in Black Panther 2. M'Baku is first seen in Black Panther, where he challenges T'Challa to a ceremonial fight for the mantle of King of Wakanda. At the end of the Black Panther movie, it is M'Baku's tribe, the Jabari, who come in and save the day when T'Challa's allies are falling to the Killmonger-controlled Wakandan army.

The mantle of the Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is one that will have to be filled after Chadwick Boseman's passing, so everyone is speculating about who will be the next Black Panther. Rumors suggest that the candidates are Shuri, Okoye, and, of course, M'Baku. Shuri would make a great Black Panther in that she knows more about the technology of the suit than anyone else. She can also update the suit more often once she has more first-hand experience wearing it. Okoye is a masterful fighter and is the most well-known member of the Wakandan army. She would probably still use her vibranium spear, and she would be an unstoppable Black Panther. It would also be good to have a woman as Black Panther, as the MCU becomes more and more aware of how important inclusion is.

Related: Okoye Would Be The MCU's Best New Black Panther, Not Shuri

As for M'Baku, he looks out for his own and is widely misunderstood because he is used to surviving. He's also somewhat antagonistic to the actual people of Wakanda, making him a very unlikely character to take over as Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Another major reason that M'Baku can't be the next Black Panther is that he doesn't even worship Bast, the panther goddess that Black Panthers worship. The Black Panther needs to be an avatar of Bast, meaning that they have to believe in and worship the Panther goddess. M'Baku's tribe worships the gorilla god Hanuman, so his beliefs make him unfit for the mantle of the Bast-worshipping Black Panther. This means that, although worthy, he can't technically become the next Black Panther due to his religion.

How M'Baku Could Still Become The King Of Wakanda

M'Baku On His Throne In Black Panther

Although not fit to be Black Panther in Wakanda Forever, M'Baku could definitely take over the mantle of King of Wakanda. He seeks the throne, unlike anyone else in the first Black Panther movie. M'Baku knows what it takes to be a ruler and has an army behind him, he does the right thing when needed, and he is a great leader. Given his aspirations to be King above anyone else in Wakanda, he is fit to be the next King of Wakanda. He shows that he is fit to be King when he shows up to help T'Challa with his army behind him. He not only shows compassion but the right temperament for someone who wants to be King. M'Baku shows his true colors, despite his hardened front, when he redeems himself in Black Panther.

A King needs to be passionate about protecting his kingdom and also needs to have the experience and drive to lead, and out of everyone in the Black Panther movie, M'Baku is the obvious choice. Although different from previous Black Panther Kings like Killmonger, he has the right drive to lead, he is a major character with a redemption arc who deserves to be King, and the people of Wakanda need someone like him in charge because he makes the right decisions at the right time no matter how hard they are. Given everything that makes him unfit for the mantle of Black Panther, including his religion, he is an anti-heroic figure who can rule Wakanda in his own way and who has experience in leading entire armies. He is the obvious choice for King of Wakanda. He can keep the people safe from any danger that arises, and he can make the right choices when needed. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, M'Baku should be the next King of Wakanda, even though he can't be the next Black Panther.

Next: Black Panther 2's Secret Character Is A Better Villain Choice Than Namor

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