The Soul Stone Must Be In Black Panther

There are six Infinity Stones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the location of one, the Soul Gem, remains unknown. Some fan speculation and intriguing theories offered several neat ideas for how the Soul Stone could be introduced in Thor: Ragnarok but it wasn't and the Taika Waititi directed adventure is as standalone as promised.Over the course of 11 years and 22 movies, the Infinity Stones will have served as the MacGuffins of the MCU, the binding glue that brings all of the stories - and the ultimate villain of them all - together, leading to the franchise's conclusion in the untitled Avengers 4 in May 2019. Or at least, it's the conclusion of the MCU as we know it, the "culmination" of all the movies to have released so far to take the words from Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige who orchestrated the whole universe.

Before Marvel Studios wraps up the three 'Phases' (let's call the whole thing Volume 1) the last Infinity Stone must be introduced, must get some sort of story wrapped around it, and must be collected by the big bad villain Thanos (Josh Brolin) and placed with the other five Stones into the Infinity Gauntlet - the mighty golden glove that houses all six stones - so we can see Thanos use it to wreak havoc upon the universe.

Thor: Ragnarok is the 17th feature film by Marvel Studios, leaving five other movies still to come before the party wraps up. There are therefore a options for where the Soul Stone may be:

Black Panther - February 16, 2018
Avengers: Infinity War - May 4, 2018
Ant-Man and the Wasp - July 6, 2018
Captain Marvel - March 8, 2019
Untitled Avengers 4 (Its title is a minor spoiler) - May 3, 2019

However, given the nature of Avengers: Infinity War, it's a certainty that the Infinity Gauntlet will be used in this film next year by Thanos. That means the Soul Stone must be introduced in the next few months. It would be weird and almost cheap from a storytelling standpoint for it to just briefly get introduced in Avengers 3, so it's a safe assumption Black Panther is where the last piece of the puzzle remains.

So, throw those Thor: Ragnarok theories about Hela (Cate Blanchett) having the Soul Stone, or it being in Odin's Eye, or Heimdall having it as his own source of power, in the trash. The Soul Stone is in Wakanda, the secretive, isolated fictional nation in Africa where Black Panther reigns, and it makes a lot of sense when you break it down.

Update: The first official Avengers: Infinity War trailer seemingly confirms this theory!

A major part of the Black Panther title, a mantle passed down through generations, and the culture of Wakanda is the spirituality of its people, specifically their connection with tradition and the dead. Its Necropolis, the "City of the Dead" where Black Panthers go to die and where they draw their power and knowledge from their ancestors is at the center of this. Necropolis will absolutely be a part of the MCU given its crucial importance to the character, and it was alluded to with T'Challa's choice words in Captain America: Civil War when he spoke with Black Widow about his father's death.

Combine that with the reality that Wakanda is the most technologically advanced nation on Earth, and the only place on the planet where the nearly indestructible metal known as Vibranium is found (the stuff Captain America's shield is made of), and it's easy to piece together how all of these things can connect to an Infinity Stone.

Related: Where the Infinity Stones are after Doctor Strange

In Marvel Comics, Vibranium found its way to Wakanda from space via a meteor and from the imagery in the Black Panther movie trailers, we suspect Marvel Studios is honoring the comics in a big way here. Clearly, Vibranium - an unusual unearthly alloy - is at the source of Wakanda's tech, but if it came via meteor, and if Wakanda is able to explore another realm or dimension to communicate with the dead, we suspect that meteor brought with it the Soul Stone.

On one hand, it's obvious and Kevin Said in 2015 that Black Panther helps setup Infinity War. On the other hand, why are so many of these Infinity Stones finding their way to Earth? What's so special about our planet in a very populated galaxy? And what if it really isn't in Black Panther and Thanos already has it or knows where it is?

These are questions for later but we do know from Guardians of the Galaxy 1 that the sixth and final stone is orange in color and we should find out more in February when Black Panther opens in theaters. Share your thoughts and theories on the Infinity Stones in the comments!

More: Thor: Ragnarok's Ending Explained

In Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok”the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization”at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger”the Incredible Hulk!

Thor: Ragnarok is directed by Taika Waititi and returns Chris Hemsworth starring as Thor and Tom Hiddleston reprising his role as Loki. They are joined by Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson and Karl Urban, with Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins. Kevin Feige is producing with Louis D'Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Eric Pearson and Craig Kyle & Christopher L. Yost wrote the screenplay.

Next: Where The Hell Is The Soul Stone?