Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Sets Up Shock MCU Phase 5 Movie

Warning! SPOILERS for Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverAlthough Black Panther: Wakanda Forever covers a lot of ground, the movie takes its time to set up a surprising film for Phase 5 of the MCU. Following the debut of the undersea kingdom Talokan and its ruler Namor, Wakanda becomes caught in a shared vibranium crisis the Sub-Mariner seeks to end with brute force by killing Riri Williams, the scientist and MIT student who built a device capable of locating the precious metal. As such, Wakanda Forever sees the return of the CIA's Special Agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) who in turn comes with some big reveals for the MCU's future.

With direction from Ross, the aftermath of Shuri and Okoye's battle with the powerful Talokanils in Massachusetts saw Ross feigning ignorance toward the CIA's new director. Surprisingly, the new director is revealed to be none other than Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus). Having shown up in previous Phase 4 projects such as Black Widow and Hawkeye, Val's new appearance confirms her official government position in the MCU as she works to build a new team of superpowered assets who will be seen in 2024's Thunderbolts. Humorously, she's also revealed to be Ross' ex-wife.

Val Creating The Thunderbolts Makes More Sense After Black Panther 2

As seen in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, multiple nations are hungry for vibranium and all its capabilities. The existence of a device capable of finding more is a truly dangerous prospect with the valuable metal becoming the focus of a whole new kind of global arms race. As Val says herself in Black Panther 2, the final movie for MCU Phase 4, she dreams of the day when the US finally gets its hands on vibranium. However, it seems as though the Thunderbolts will be the next best thing in the absence of Wakanda and Talokan's most protected resource.

The reveal that Val is the director of the CIA means she carries quite a lot of power and influence. She's also willing to do whatever it takes to get what she wants, evidenced by bugging her ex-husband the moment she brought him to the crime scene, exploiting his relationship with the Wakandans who saved his life in 2018's Black Panther. Val's new role also explains her recruitment attempts for the Thunderbolts, having already enlisted assets such as John Walker's U.S Agent and Yelena Belova. Combined with the rest of the confirmed team with Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier, it's clear she's looking for superpowered agents who've worked for governments in the past and can navigate grey morality, a perfect team for the CIA to covertly exert its influence over the MCU.

Is Val Working With Thunderbolt Ross In The MCU?

Falcon And Winter Soldier Episode 5 Julia Louis-Dreyfus Valentina

While Everett Ross and General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross are not related in the comics, one has to wonder if Val is working for the Secretary of State to build this new team of agents for the CIA. It's recently been confirmed that Thunderbolt Ross will be played by Harrison Ford in Captain America: New World Order, taking over the role from the late William Hurt. This suggests that Ross will have a significant role to play in the MCU's Phase 5 alongside Val, including the coincidentally named Thunderbolts.

While Ross was not involved in the team's origins despite leading a later iteration in the comics, it stands to reason that the MCU is probably looking to rectify that missed opportunity. The reveal of Val's new CIA role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever certainly suggests the possibility that her team-building efforts are perhaps with the approval of Thunderbolt Ross himself. It's certainly an exciting reveal with the final film of Phase 4 setting up one of the biggest projects for the MCU's Phase 5.

Next: Wakanda Forever's Rotten Tomatoes Compared to Black Panther and the MCU