Screenrant
Speculation has been rampant over the identity of the new Black Panther, with Marvel providing plenty of evidence that Shuri is under the mask.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is almost here and will finally reveal the identity of the new Black Panther, though there is already an abundance of evidence that it is Shuri under Black Panther suit. Since the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020, speculation has continued over the future of Black Panther as a character in the MCU. While there were calls for T'Challa to be recast to continue the character's legacy, Marvel Studios opted not to recast out of respect for Boseman, leading talk to turn to who in the MCU will take T'Challa's place as Wakanda's protector.
As the marketing for the MCU's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever began ramping up, Marvel Studios provided fans with plenty of evidence that it is indeed Shuri (Letitia Wright), T'Challa's sister, who will be taking the mantle in the MCU. From merchandising designs to posters that provide plenty of hints, to footage shown in trailers and TV spots, it is all but officially confirmed that Shuri is the Black Panther in Wakanda Forever. All that being said, here is every piece of evidence explored in detail behind this seeming confirmation of the new Black Panther's identity.
The first official look at Black Panther: Wakanda Forever came at SDCC 2022, where Marvel Studios released the first teaser trailer for the film. This trailer contains only one shot of the new Black Panther at the very end of the trailer. Despite not being overwhelmingly clear who is beneath the suit, the first bit of evidence of Shuri's confrontation with Namor and Talocan came from the new Black Panther having a more traditionally feminine physique. In the trailer's final shot, the new Black Panther bore their claws with a wounded Namor in the background. The more feminine physique of Black Panther led many to speculate that either Nakia (Lupita Nyong;o) or Shuri was in the suit, with the latter being more likely due to a similar storyline in Marvel Comics.
One of the first pieces of solid evidence behind Shuri being the Black Panther came shortly before the second trailer for the film was released in October 2022. As is par for the course with big franchise releases, merchandising companies are given time to design their various products based on the film ahead of release. This allows for plenty of unofficial first looks to be given both before and after trailers have been released. This was the case with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, with the first trailer (hinting at more MCU mutants through Namor), only showing the lower half of the new Black Panther, meaning merchandising gave the first proper look at the new suit. It was through a Funko Pop figure, that the first piece of evidence came for it being specifically Shuri taking on the new role in the sequel.
