Marvel Sets Up Wakanda’s Space Empire Before Black Panther 2 & Spinoffs

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Marvel's What If...? episode 2, "What If... T'Challa Became A Star-Lord?"

In Marvel's What If...? episode 2, Marvel set up the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda for the MCU ahead of Black Panther 2 and the upcoming spin-off projects in development. In the episode of the new animated series on Disney+, an alternate timeline reveals a universe where Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa was taken by Yondu and the Ravagers instead of Peter Quill, forever altering the course of his life. However, his family and nation didn't simply forget about their prince, and their search to find him confirms the very real possibility that the Wakanda of the main MCU could expand to the stars in the near future.

In Marvel's What If...? episode 2, "What If... T'Challa Became A Star-Lord," Yondu raised T'Challa just as he would have Peter Quill. The young Wakandan prince would eventually become a Star-Lord, albeit one who was actually popular and admired after he convinced Yondu to steal from the rich and give to the poor. However, the Ravagers' latest job to obtain the Embers of Genesis from the Collector resulted in T'Challa discovering a Wakandan spacecraft in Taneleer Tivan's collection. Entering the vessel, a message revealed that T'Challa's father had been sending warriors into space to search for his son for years.

Assuming that the primary MCU's Wakanda has the same level of Vibranium technology as the one featured in this episode of Marvel's What If...?, this confirms that the African nation is capable of space travel, which is a pretty big deal. By having advanced spacecraft, the MCU's Wakanda could begin the formation of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, a recently introduced cosmic expansion seen in Marvel Comics from author Ta-Nehisi Coates. While the narrative of the galactic empire is vast with several layers, seeing Wakanda looking to grow in the far reaches of space would certainly be a new and intriguing dynamic for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the various spin-off series in development.

Interestingly enough, the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda was initially plagued by time, as Wakanda's first space explorers ventured into a wormhole that sent them hundreds of years into the past. This allowed for the entire Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda to be fully formed by the time T'Challa became king of Wakanda. However, the Empire had lost its way among the stars, having forgotten the culture of Wakanda Prime over time as it began building its power on the backs of the worlds they conquered, turning their peoples into slaves. Theming the empire, putting it on a bright new path going forward. As a result, seeing Wakanda warring with its own expansion would certainly be a major evolution of the Black Panther franchise in the MCU.

In any case, the confirmation of Wakandan space travel opens the door for some pretty interesting possibilities for the MCU's future. Despite being featured in an alternate timeline, there's no reason why the Wakanda of the main MCU would be lacking the same technologies seen in this new episode of Marvel's What If...? As a result, a version of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda could soon make its way to Black Panther 2 and/or the Wakanda spin-offs, providing an incredibly dynamic narrative as it expands into the MCU's final frontier.

More: What If...? Episode 2: 6 Big Questions About T'Challa's Star-Lord

Marvel's What If...? releases new episodes every Wednesday on Disney+.