Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Ending Explained (In Detail)

Warning: This post contains major spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending explained many of the questions viewers had in the wake of T'Challa's death — although these reveals for the MCU's future weren't all obvious. The final movie of Phase 4 of the MCU finds Ryan Coogler returning to direct and co-write the powerful follow-up that deals with the death of T'Challa in the aftermath of Chadwick Boseman's passing in real life. As such, the movie serves as a touching tribute to the actor and his character while also setting up Shuri as the new Black Panther and introducing a new MCU villain in the form of Namor. With so much going on, there is a lot to explain with the ending of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as the sequel hits Disney+.

Along with its Disney+ release, Wakanda Forever has recently been nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Angela Bassett for Best Supporting Actress, the first acting nomination in the MCU. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ties up most of its storylines, but it leaves several doors open as it teases what’s to come, including Shuri's new role as Black Panther, Namor's next plans following his defeat, and the legacy of T'Challa with the reveal of his son. The movie also further explored Wakanda as a nation and saw it facing big changes with the death of Queen Ramonda, M'Baku taking the throne as the new king, and attacks from the outside world. Ultimately, the film unveiled plenty of storylines to think about after the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Shuri Is The MCU's New Black Panther

Letitia Wright as Shuri in Black Panther Wakanda Forever

Though there were many strong candidates for who could take over the role, the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending explained why Shuri was the right choice as the MCU's new Black Panther. Following the death of Queen Ramonda, Shuri continues her work to recreate the heart-shaped herb. The synthetic creation works, and she dons her new Black Panther suit, following in her brother's footsteps. Similar to T'Challa in Captain America: Civil War, Shuri starts her path as Black Panther blinded by a desire for revenge. However, though she wants Namor to pay for the death of her mother, it is Queen Ramonda's words that convince Shuri to show mercy and even sympathize with Namor in the end, showing the kind of Black Panther she will be.

With Shuri established in the role, there are a number of places the new Black Panther could show up next. The friendship that Shuri develops with Riri Williams in this movie was one of the highlights of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It would make sense if she joined her new friend in her own solo series with the upcoming Ironheart. Shuri could also connect to Armor Wars as the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending explained that there were outside forces attempting to steal Wakanda's Vibranium, similar to the storyline involving people going after Stark tech. However, given that Shuri is stepping into T'Challa's position in the MCU, it seems obvious that she will join the other heroes as part of the new Avengers in Avengers: Kang Dynasty.

What T'Challa's Son Means For The MCU

prince t'challa in black panther wakanda forever-1

In an emotional post-credit scene, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's ending explained that T'Challa and Nakia had a son named Toussaint. The end of the movie finds Shuri visiting Nakia in Haiti where she performs an intimate ceremony on a beach, coming to peace with the death of T'Challa. In the credit scene, Nakia introduces Shuri to Toussaint and explains that she and T'Challa decided to raise him in Haiti away from the pressures of the throne. Toussaint then reveals to Shuri that his Wakandan name is Prince T'Challa. It is a touching moment and another way the Wakanda Forever ending carries on T'Challa's legacy within the MCU.

Toussaint's MCU introduction also raises questions about his possible future role. Though it would seem fitting for T'Challa's son to take up the Black Panther mantle, Wakanda Forever clearly established that Shuri is the right choice, especially considering how young Toussaint is — though she may train T'Challa Jr. to follow in her footsteps. As a rightful heir, Prince T'Challa may also seek to take the throne now. M'Baku has shown his respect for T'Challa and his family, so it is likely he would not challenge Prince T'Challa. However, given that he was raised away from Wakanda for a purpose, it doesn't seem likely ruling is in his future. In fact, it is possible that he will remain in his peaceful life in Haiti and that the Wakanda Forever ending will be Toussaint's only appearance in the MCU.

Will M’Baku Finally Be King Of Wakanda?

An image of M'Baku looking serious in Black Panther 2

Though Shuri took the mantle of Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's ending explained that it would be M'Baku's turn to sit on the throne. M'Baku first appeared in Black Panther as a challenger to T'Challa taking the throne. However, this time, M'Baku doesn't need to challenge anyone. Not wanting the throne for herself, Shuri doesn't show up to claim it, allowing M'Baku to take it in her place with her blessing. This isn't the first time in the MCU the duties of the ruler of Wakanda and Black Panther had been split as T'Challa was already serving as Black Panther when his father, King T'Chaka, was still alive and ruling.

Though he started out as an antagonist, M'Baku has proven himself a true ally and supporter of T'Challa and his family. Wakanda Forever proves how much he has changed from his warrior ways. He even advises Shuri not to seek revenge on Namor and risk a never-ending war with Talokan, wanting Wakanda to find peace. M'Baku and Shuri have proven how well they work together with M'Baku serving as a mentor to her. These more level-headed qualities suggest he is exactly the kind of ruler Wakanda needs now.

Why Shuri Saw Killmonger On The Ancestral Plane & Not Her Mother

Shuri in Namor's chambers in Black Panther 2

After rumors of his appearance, the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending explained Killmonger's return. After Shuri recreates the heart-shaped herb, she finds herself in the Ancestral Plane, but instead of seeing her mother or brother, she finds Killmonger waiting for her. Feeding on the anger and hatred she has at the time in the wake of losing her mother, Killmonger urges Shuri to kill Namor and have her revenge. He attempts to show her that he and Shuri are more alike than she will admit, insisting she needs to be able to do what is necessary, as Killmonger did, instead of going down T'Challa's "noble" path of mercy.

Her confrontation with Killmonger sets conflict within Shuri as she heads into her showdown with Namor at the end of Wakanda Forever. Experiencing so much loss, Shuri likely wanted to be comforted by her loved ones who passed on. However, it is as if her subconscious summoned Killmonger because of the darkness that was overtaking her. With Killomnger in the Ancestral Plane, he remains as deviant as ever, perhaps explaining why he is alone in the afterlife. His talk of revenge seems to sway Shuri for a moment. In the end, she pushes Killmonger's words out of her mind and follows the path of her brother and mother.

How Riri Williams’ Wakanda Forever Origin Sets Up Ironheart

An image of Riri Williams using contraptions in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Riri Williams' scene-stealing role introduces her into the MCU and the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending explained more about her Ironheart series. Riri aids Shuri and the Wakandans in their battle against Namor, using the Ironheart suit Shuri helped her build. With Riri unintentionally helping the U.S. in trying to find Vibranium, she was made a target of Namor who sought to kill her. However, fighting alongside the Wakandans and getting her own high-tech suit shows that Riri has the potential to be her own great hero which leads into her Disney+ series.

Shuri has to take back the Vibranium Ironheart suit from Riri at the end of the movie. However, this is fitting for the hero's humble beginnings where she had to build her own suit in a garage using whatever parts she could get her hands on. Ironheart will return her to that underdog quality that works well for the young hero. Also, while Wakanda Forever introduced Riri in the MCU, the movie only hinted at her background meaning there is a lot more to explore with the character in her own series.

What Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s Role Reveals About Her Thunderbolts Plans

Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine wearing black shades in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

While the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending explained many of the movie's mysteries, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's plan is still unclear. Taking on the new role as head of the CIA, Val works alongside a reluctant Everett Ross to take Wakanda's Vibranium. She continues to be a shady operative, taking on the role of a more villainous Nick Fury. She even has Everett arrested for helping the Wakandans only for Okoye to break him free in the end. However, her overall appearance in Wakanda Forever could shed some light on her upcoming role in Thunderbolts.

Thunderbolts will focus on an MCU team of anti-heroes, so far made up of Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, U.S. Agent, Red Guardian, Task Master, and Ghost, several of whom Val personally recruited. While Val's main role in the MCU thus far has been putting this team together, there are no obvious candidates in Wakanda Forever. While the likes of M'Baku and Namor would fit the bill of anti-heroes, neither would be interested in joining such a team outside their own respective nations. If Val is not looking for new Thunderbolts members, her mission seems to tie to Vibranium and a potential weapon she hopes to use it for. It is likely this will be revealed in Thunderbolts as her true intentions become clear.

Why Namor Actually Yielded To Shuri (& What It Means For Their Alliance)

Namor holding onto a spear in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

The truce between Wakanda and Talokan in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending explained by Namor hints at his next moves. During the final battle, Shuri is able to lure Namor away from his water power source long enough to defeat him. Though he realized Shuri's Black Panther could have killed him, Namor didn’t have to yield. However, choosing to take the loss sees Namor gaining a powerful ally in Wakanda and shows that he is smart enough to see the potential in that. His death would have devastated Talokan and left them without a leader, but an alliance with Wakanda, a country that’s currently under international pressure to share its Vibranium, would unknowingly make them soldiers in his war against the surface. Shuri promised to protect Namor's oceans if he yielded, and that promise was exactly what Namor wanted all along — an assurance that Wakanda would stand by his side.

The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ending explained that Wakanda and Namor could be allied in a potential war, one that is waged by others against Wakanda. It's only a matter of time before the U.S. and other countries attempt to find and steal Vibranium for their own uses. There will only be so much Wakanda can do before things come to a breaking point, especially if other countries keep trying to claim Wakandans are in the wrong for not sharing certain resources. While there is no confirmation of Black Panther 3 happening in the MCU just yet, it is likely the sequel will focus on Shuri and M'Baku their new roles and contending with these outside forces as well as their uneasy alliance with Namor.

NEXT: Why Queen Ramonda Was Killed Off In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever