MCU Wakanda Series’ Working Title Hints At A Different Black Panther

The working title for Marvel Studios' upcoming Black Panther series could suggest a new Black Panther will debut in the MCU. A drama series set in Wakanda was announced in February 2021, with Ryan Coogler returning to helm the Disney+ series. While Marvel Studios has also been working on a Disney+ series focusing on Danai Gurira's Okoye, which would detail her backstory in the MCU, there has been no word whether these two Wakandan spinoffs are the same or separate projects.

Speaking to Collider following the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore revealed that the Wakanda series isn't "as far along as people want it to be," but did suggest that there are great ideas being posed to Coogler. Though news on the Wakanda series has been sparse, a recent report from Cosmic Circus has suggested that the series' working title will be "Golden City." This is in reference to the Wakandan capital city, Birnin Zana, the site of the founding of Wakanda, which is otherwise referred to as the Golden City. This could pose an important storyline for the upcoming spinoff.

“Golden City” Working Title Hints At A Historic Black Panther For The Disney+ Series

bashenga with bast in black panther opening montage

While the "Golden City" working title for the MCU's Wakanda series could suggest the show will explore the Wakandan capital city further in the present day, particularly now that the monarchy of the nation has changed hands, there is one perhaps more anticipated storyline that Marvel Studios could delve into. The opening moments of Black Panther provided a brief overview of the history of Wakanda, introducing the first Black Panther, Bashenga, who united the warring tribes and established Wakanda. Bashenga was affiliated with the Golden Tribe, which would become the royal bloodline of Wakanda and would lend its name to Wakanda's Golden City.

It's possible that Marvel Studios could be exploring the origins of Wakanda in the upcoming Black Panther spinoff series, centering on Bashenga ingesting the heart-shaped herb, becoming the first Black Panther, and founding the Golden City at the center of what would become Wakanda. This unexplored period in Marvel history could make for an exciting and unique project. A series detailing the discovery of Wakanda's vibranium, the war between Wakanda's five tribes, and the foundation of the nation would be rife with exciting action and drama.

Why A Prequel Series Could Help The Wakanda Streaming Series

Setting the MCU's Wakanda series in the ancient past would not only allow a fresh story to be told in the MCU in a completely different style, but it could also benefit Marvel Studios in a variety of other ways. The vision of Wakanda featured in Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is certainly beautiful but also incredibly expensive to bring to the big screen. Setting the Wakanda series in the past would allow for better use of the series' budget, as Wakanda wouldn't yet be a built-up and technologically advanced nation.

Using the founding of Wakanda and Bashenga's first Black Panther as the storyline for the Wakanda series also means that the present-day world of Wakanda doesn't need to be tampered with. This would give the series a lot of narrative freedom, as it wouldn't have to conform to the rules of the current MCU. A Black Panther series set in the past would also be a fantastic way to introduce new characters into the MCU while keeping the tone of other Black Panther projects that have come before.

More: New Black Panther 2 Character Sets Up Rumored Okoye Spinoff