Full Breakdown Of The New Black Panther (Identity, Powers & MCU Future)

Warning: This contains SPOILERS for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!

There is a new Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever shows Shuri's journey to picking up the mantle. The future of Black Panther was changed forever when Chadwick Boseman died in 2020, and Marvel Studios decided not to recast T'Challa. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever honors Boseman's legacy and reinforces this stance by having T'Challa pass away in the opening minutes, leaving Wakanda without its king and powerful protector. But once the threat of Namor comes and more losses mount, the time finally comes for the MCU to debut a new Black Panther in Shuri (Letitia Wright).

The journey for Shuri to become the MCU's new Black Panther is at the core of Black Panther 2's story. Theories pre-release suggested anyone from M'Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), and a multiverse Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) could take over the mantle. But the movie shows that Shuri was the only one who could bring the mantle back and be suited to take on the responsibility. It allows her to lead Wakanda into a new age and defeat Namor in battle during Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's ending. Now that Shuri is the new Black Panther, here is how she got here, what her powers are, and what the future holds.

How Shuri Is The MCU's New Black Panther

The fate of the Black Panther mantle changed in the original 2018 movie, as Killmonger burned every trace of the heart-shaped herb, and the last one was used to keep T'Challa alive. The effects of this decision are still relevant when Black Panther 2 begins, as Wakanda not having the powerful herb means Shuri cannot cure her brother of an undisclosed disease. It also means that there is no path for someone else to undergo the heart-shaped herb ritual to become the new Black Panther. Shuri is not interested in continuing the mantle at the beginning of the film either. It is only after Ramonda (Angela Bassett) dies that she reconsiders her stance.

Shuri is able to become the MCU's new Black Panther after she cracks the code to recreate the heart-shaped herb. This is only possible thanks to a bracelet given to her by Namor that includes traces of a rare flower that created the Talokan people and also grew from vibranium-enriched soil. Shuri then drinks the liquid made from the new heart-shaped herb to visit the Ancestral Plane, where she sees Killmonger in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While she initially doubts that the ceremony worked and thinks Bast, the panther god, rejected her, she soon figures out that she does have the power of Black Panther.

How Powerful Shuri's Black Panther Is In Wakanda Forever

New Black Panther in Wakanda Forever teaser

Shuri's Black Panther powers in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever are comparable to those who have held the mantle before her. The heart-shaped herb grants her super strength even when she is not wearing her Black Panther suit. It would seem that Shuri also has increased speed, stamina, and other physical characteristics as a result of her superhero transformation to go along with her genius-level intellect. All indications are that she is at least as powerful as T'Challa or Killmonger, effectively making her a super soldier. Shuri's powers are further increased when she wears her specialized vibranium Black Panther suit.

How Shuri's Black Panther Suit Compares To T'Challa's

Shuri and T'Challa's Black Panther Suits

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's trailers provided several teases of Shuri's new Black Panther suit, but the movie offers an even more detailed look at the design and its unique features. The Black Panther suit retains its nanotechnology enhancements that Shuri implemented for T'Challa in Black Panther. It also has the energy absorption and redistribution abilities that T'Challa had. The actual look of Shuri's Black Panther suit is altered, as it has different accent pieces in the design. The costume is also highlighted with gold pieces, making it visually similar to T'Chaka and Killmonger's suits.

Shuri's Black Panther suit also includes white dots on the mask, which was one of the best indicators pre-release that the princess was the MCU's new Black Panther. She also gave herself a unique upgrade by incorporating her panther-shaped gauntlets into the suit, and they materialize from her arms and fire sonic blasts. This gives Shuri's Black Panther suit a significant advantage over past iterations, as it gives her a chance to have long-range attacks. Her suit is different from the comics, where Shuri usually is seen with a fur collar and sometimes a cape attached to the costume.

Shuri's MCU Future: Where The New Black Panther Can Return

New Black Panther in Black Panther Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set up to be the first of many appearances for Shuri within the MCU as the new Black Panther. There is room for her to return in several upcoming projects, including a few spinoffs from the sequel. Black Panther 2 introduces Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) before her Ironheart Disney+ show, and the friendship created between Riri and Shuri could pave the way for another meeting in Chicago. There are also multiple Wakanda spinoff shows in development, so it could make sense for Shuri to return in these if she retains the throne - but that is not guaranteed.

Shuri's MCU future will likely include another appearance if the Black Panther franchise continues. There is a strong chance that Black Panther 3 will happen, as Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and director Ryan Coogler have already discussed some ideas. It would be quite confusing for audiences if Black Panther 3 happens and Shuri's Black Panther is not featured. She could also return before the potential sequel in either Avengers: The Kang Dynasty or Avengers: Secret Wars. There is little doubt that Shuri will be back, and Marvel has plenty of options to keep Letitia Wright around if they desire.

Shuri Recreating The Heart Shaped Herb Gives Black Panther A Bigger Future

Killmonger the heart shaped herb black panther

The Black Panther's MCU future is even bigger than Shuri, thanks to revelations featured in Black Panther 2's ending. After Shuri cracks the code to print a new heart-shaped herb, she decides that Wakanda should not be left without the plant again. One of the movie's final scenes shows Shuri planting more heart-shaped herbs in Wakanda. This guarantees that Marvel Studios has a path to allow other characters to get the powers of Black Panther and help replace T'Challa. The MCU will likely take it slow when it comes to expanding the ranks of the Black Panther since Shuri has only just reclaimed the mantle, but the future is still bright.

Will Shuri Be The MCU's Only Black Panther Moving Forward?

Black-Panther-Wakanda-Forever-two-Black-Panther-helmets

There is now a chance that Shuri will not be the only Black Panther in the MCU going forward. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever showed two Black Panther masks that Shuri has made in addition to her suit. While one belonged to T'Challa, the movie indicates that Shuri even had her Black Panther suit created before she officially went through the process to gain powers from Bast. This means that there are potentially other Black Panther suits available in Wakanda for others to wear after they digest one of the new heart-shaped herbs Shuri created. That is why it seems more likely that the MCU could feature multiple Black Panthers in the future.

Marvel Studios has talked about the possibility of having multiple people be Black Panther dating back to the first film's release. Producer Nate Moore told Screen Rant in 2018 that "the Black Panther is a mantle as much as it is a person, so we're not restricted by anything" when asked about other characters becoming Black Panther. That could be why Black Panther 2 ends with M'Baku challenging for Wakanda's throne, which could allow him to drink the heart-shaped herb and become another Black Panther. Furthermore, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's post-credits scene creates a possibility for T'Challa's secret son to inherit the mantle eventually.

Is Nakia & T'Challa's Son Destined To Be The MCU's Next Black Panther?

The big surprise from Black Panther 2's post-credits scene that Nakia and T'Challa had a son, named Toussaint (and also T'Challa), might also tease Marvel's long-term plans for the Black Panther mantle. Shuri is currently entrenched as the MCU's new Black Panther, but Letitia Wright will not be able to play the role forever. Marvel has now seemingly shown its hand regarding who will replace her. Giving T'Challa a son who shares his name gives the studio a chance to eventually return to telling stories about T'Challa, even if it is not Chadwick Boseman's character.

The potential for T'Challa's son to be the MCU's next Black Panther likely will not be paid off for several years, if ever. Prince T'Challa/Toussaint is only five or six years old when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever takes place. Even as Marvel assembles a Young Avengers roster, he is far too young to become a superhero. Marvel will not be in any rush to make decisions on what will happen with Nakia and T'Challa's son. Still, his introduction gives the franchise another storytelling possibility when it comes to Black Panther's MCU future.

Next: Who Plays Toussaint In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever