The sequel to Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, will finally arrive on July 8, 2022, but the cast will definitely look different this time around. The biggest difference, of course, is that the franchise is moving forward without its title character, after star Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer in 2020 (his role of T’Challa will not be recast). So who will be in the new movie?
So far, the cast is shaping up to include several of the key characters from the first movie, plus a new addition or two. Ready to see which of your favorites is planning to join the return trip to Wakanda? Keep reading for all the cast info we have so far!
Michaela Coel
Coel is the latest star to join the stacked cast. Details about her character have yet to be revealed, but according to Variety, the I May Destroy You actor recently joined director Ryan Coogler at Atlanta’s Pinewood Studios, where production kicked off in June.
Letitia Wright as Shuri
Wright will be returning as Shuri, the tech-genius Wakandan princess and younger sister to T’Challa; in fact, it’s rumored that the new movie will actually give her a bigger role — perhaps a nod to Shuri’s time as the Black Panther in the Marvel comics? Shuri remains Wright’s biggest role to date, although she does have a couple other high-profile projects in the pipeline, including the long-delayed mystery thriller Death on the Nile.
Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia
Oscar winner Nyong’o is slated to reprise her role as Nakia, the Wakandan spy who shares a romantic connection with T’Challa. Her Marvel role isn’t Nyong’o’s only major franchise: she also plays Maz Kanata (via voice acting and motion capture) in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and related media.
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Danai Gurira as Okoye
Gurira will bring her portrayal of Okoye, head of the Dora Milaje, back to the big screen in the Black Panther sequel. She also happens to be a true multihyphenate: in addition to acting in major roles like Okoye and The Walking Dead’s Michonne, she’s a Tony-nominated playwright for her play Eclipsed.
Angela Bassett as Ramonda
Oscar and Emmy nominee Bassett will return as Ramonda, the queen mother of Wakanda and mom to T’Challa and Shuri. She’s spent the past few years mostly on the small screen, appearing in several seasons of American Horror Story and, most recently, starring in 9-1-1, which she also produces.
Winston Duke as M’Baku
Duke is set to reprise his role as M’Baku, the ruthless but honorable leader of the Jabari tribe in Wakanda. He also appeared in the 2019 horror film Us and, most recently, the Netflix thriller Spenser Confidential.
Martin Freeman as Agent Everett Ross
CIA agent Ross, played by Freeman, is one of Wakanda’s reliable allies from outside their borders. Freeman, of course, has a lengthy resume that includes blockbuster titles like Sherlock and The Hobbit; most recently, he’s been focused on Breeders, a comedy series that he created, stars in, and executive produces.
Tenoch Huerta
Huerta is the only new cast member whose presence has been confirmed by a major media outlet (although Marvel itself has not commented on the rumors). In 2020, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Huerta would be playing the movie’s villain, although the identity of that character is still unknown. Huerta has a thriving career in Spanish-language media; to English-speaking audiences, he’s best known for playing infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero on Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico.
This article was originally published on PopSugar
