M'Baku's Wakanda Forever Fate Is Better For Black Panther 3 Than You Think

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverThe fate of Lord M'Baku at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a good sign for Wakanda's future and a potential Black Panther 3. Following Wakanda's war with Namor and his underwater kingdom of Talokan, Princess Shuri is now her nation's official protector as the new Black Panther. However, her absence from the Wakandan succession ceremony at Warrior Falls indicates that she won't be Wakanda's new ruler.

As seen at the ending of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the nation was expecting Princess Shuri to come to Warrior Falls and defend her right to the throne, just as her brother T'Challa did in the first Black Panther movie. While the throne was hers by right following the death of her mother, Queen Ramonda, she would have still needed to face potential challengers. However, Shuri declines to appear, leaving a path to the throne open for M'Baku to claim. This is a good thing considering M'Baku's evolution as an ally to Wakanda and given the need for a strong ruler until Prince T'Challa — the son of King T'Challa and Nakia who is revealed in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's post-credits scene — comes of age.

Why M'Baku Challenges For The Throne Of Wakanda

Uniting with the nation of Wakanda by the end of 2018's Black Panther, Lord M'Baku and the Jabari Tribe became mighty allies who fought back against Killmonger's coup and also fought alongside T'Challa and the rest of the MCU's heroes during Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever reveals that M'Baku made a promise to the late T'Challa that he would protect and provide council to Princess Shuri — a vow he honors well in the sequel. Likewise, it seems as though Shuri's decision to not come to the Warrior Falls ceremony is because she wants M'Baku to take the throne instead.

With M'Baku arriving at the ceremony aboard the Royal Talon Fighter and announcing Shuri's absence before making his official challenge, the implication is made that he and Shuri spoke beforehand and that he received her blessing. M'Baku will now become king of Wakanda, a dynamic role that comes not from being isolated in the mountains as the Jabari had been, but instead through M'Baku's willingness to change and forge new bonds for the sake of the nation's future. As such, challenging the throne is much more earned here than when M'Baku did it the first time in the original Black Panther movie.

Will Prince T'Challa Become King In Black Panther 3?

The Black Panther mask on a black background

M'Baku ruling Wakanda in the present also means there's no pressure for T'Challa's son to immediately take the throne after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. There's plenty of time for Toussaint to grow up and learn about his father's legacy before making it his own by taking either the mantle of the king or the Black Panther or both. While it might require an MCU time jump as Toussaint is currently only 6 years old, Black Panther 3 could certainly feature Prince T'Challa taking the Wakanda throne from M'Baku, who will no doubt ensure the nation is well-guided and protected in the meantime alongside Shuri as the new Black Panther.

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