Overview
#WakandaForever became an emotionally charged hashtag when Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever premiered in November 2022 as both a sequel and a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who died from colon cancer in August 2020. The film navigated the impossible task of continuing the franchise while honoring its lost star, grossing $859 million worldwide.
Processing Grief
Director Ryan Coogler made the bold choice to address Boseman’s death head-on rather than recasting T’Challa. The film opened with T’Challa’s funeral, with Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) processing grief while defending Wakanda from global threats.
This meta-textual approach allowed the film—and audiences—to mourn collectively. The “Wakanda Forever” salute became a tribute not just to the fictional kingdom but to Boseman himself.
Angela Bassett’s Performance
Bassett’s portrayal of Queen Ramonda earned widespread acclaim:
- Emotional depth: A mother grieving her son while leading a nation
- Regal strength: Commanding presence in diplomatic and action scenes
- Oscar nomination (2023): First performance in a Marvel film nominated for acting
Many felt Bassett deserved the win (she lost to Jamie Lee Curtis in Everything Everywhere All at Once).
Introducing Namor
The film introduced Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of the underwater nation Talokan (reimagined from Atlantis with Mesoamerican culture). This provided a complex antagonist—not a villain, but a leader protecting his people, mirroring T’Challa’s protective stance in the first film.
Cultural Impact
- Representation: Continued Black Panther’s legacy of Afrofuturism and Black excellence
- Indigenous representation: Namor’s Talokan featured Mayan language, culture, and actors
- Grief narrative: Showed blockbusters could tackle loss meaningfully
- Box office: $859M made it 2022’s 10th highest-grossing film despite somber tone
Source
https://www.vulture.com/article/black-panther-wakanda-forever-review.html