Marvel Revealed 1 Way To Give Shuri"s Black Panther A Big MCU Power Upgrade
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever concept art has revealed that Marvel Studios almost gave Shuri one unique power upgrade in the Phase 4 film. After the tragic 2020 passing of Chadwick Boseman, who portrayed the MCU's T'Challa, a.k.a. the Black Panther, since Captain America: Civil War, Letitia Wright stepped up to become the main character in Ryan Coogler's Black Panther sequel. Wakanda Forever saw Wright's Shuri follow in her late brother's footsteps by taking up the mantle of the Black Panther and setting out to protect Wakanda against the forces of MCU newcomer Namor and his underwater army.
While the Black Panther had been a staple of Marvel Comics since his July 1966 debut, Shuri wasn't introduced to the Marvel Universe until 2005's Black Panther Vol. 4 #2, eventually taking up the mantle of the Black Panther in 2009 after T'Challa suffered serious injuries during a battle with Namor. A variation of this storyline became the basis of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever following Boseman's passing, with the Phase 4 film paying tribute to the fallen King by allowing T'Challa's legacy to continue. Since Wakanda Forever's release, details of the original plan have surfaced, including one interesting upgrade for Shuri, which could become important in the MCU's future.