[This story contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.]
The last moments of Black Panther: Wakanda forever fulfills Marvel’s promise to honor the past and look to the future following the departure of actor Chadwick Boseman.
The mid-credits scene begins after Shuri (Letitia Wright) finally takes some time alone to mourn her brother King T’Challa (Boseman), whose death in the film reflects an untimely departure. of Boseman in 2020 because of colon cancer. The Beginning Wakanda forever, Shuri bury herself in work, unable to face her anger and guilt over her brother’s death, while her mother, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) encourages her to seek closure. While grappling with her grief, Shuri assumes the role of Black Panther and rises up in a conflict that could bring destruction to her world. It is not until the end of the film, when Shuri cedes the throne to M’Baku (Winston Duke), the young Wakandan can finally take the time to deal with her grief.
She goes to Haiti, taking Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) on an earlier offer to live with her. Earlier in the film, audiences learn that Nakia moved to Haiti to work as a school teacher – a move prompted by Thanos’ snap. Avengers: Infinity Warin which T’Challa disappears (before being brought back briefly, after the events of Avengers: Game over).
In the final scene of the film, Shuri follows her late mother’s advice, performing the Wakandan funeral rites that she wore during T’Challa’s ceremony. What follows is an emotional montage of memories, as Shuri recalls the times she smiled at her brother — the first time the film showed old scenes of Boseman.
In the mid-credits scene, the audience filmed that very moment. Shuri sits in front of a bonfire on the beach, where she joins Nakia and a six-year-old boy named Toussaint (Konadu-Sun Divine Love). Nakia introduces the boy as her son, explaining that he is also Shuri’s nephew and T’Challa’s son. In a moment that brought clear emotion to Shuri’s eyes, the boy told his aunt that his name and Wakandan title was Prince T’Challa, son of King T’Challa. It’s a callback to the original Black Panther film, in which T’Challa himself declares, “I am Prince T’Challa, son of King T’Chaka!” when M’Baku challenged him for the throne.
Shuri then raises the critical question of whether her late mother knew, Nakia assuring her that Ramonda knew and was even able to meet her grandson. Nakia explains to Shuri that she and T’Challa secretly had Toussaint, and ultimately made the decision to raise him with a normal life, away from the pressures of the Wakandan throne. It’s a poignant scene that ends Shuri’s complicated journey to mourn her brother, while also marking a hopeful new beginning for the hero. Although Shuri will never be able to replace T’Challa in her life, she can now continue their love and family legacy through his son.
With the introduction of the direct heir to the throne of T’Challa, the young prince’s arrival in the MCU implies that he could one day become Black Panther and King of Wakanda. While M’Baku’s current takeover of the throne may complicate matters further, Toussaint’s ascent will likely not take place for many years, until he is an adult.
In the comics, King T’Challa has a son named Azari from Next Avengers timeline. He exists in a multiverse known as Earth-10943, in which T’Challa and X-Men’s Storm have a romantic relationship, eventually giving birth to a son who also has his mother’s mutant abilities. and his father’s Black Panther-like qualities. In this alternate timeline, Ultron (the AI villain from season two Avengers film) triumphed, wiping out the Avengers and dominating Azari’s universe. Thus, The Next Avengers was born, in which Azari and the other children of the deceased Avengers rose up to defeat Ultron’s regime once and for all.
While Toussaint is clearly not the same character as Azari, it does open the door for Marvel to potentially merge comic book and movie storylines for T’Challa’s son’s future. And with the existence of the multiverse, anything is still possible.
After the credits ended Wakanda forever, without a post-credits scene but instead a screen telling the audience that “Black Panther will return”. While a third Black Panther While a sequel has yet to be announced, there are several avenues available for Shuri and the Wakanda people to return to the MCU. The introduction of Ironheart, or Riri Williams, (Dominique Thorne) in the film opens the door to a potential Black Panther appearance in the sequel. heart of stone airing next fall. Also, Black Panther has previously appeared in films in both Captain America and Avengers Franchising.
For now, audiences can think about Boseman’s legacy and imagine what’s to come.
