The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) concluded its fourth filming phase with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which included an outstanding ensemble cast.
Marvel Studios finally gets to enjoy the fruits of its labor on Black Panther 2 after two years of setbacks and strife. The film will include an expansive return to Wakanda. With one of the most outstanding ensemble casts of any MCU standalone movie to date, director Ryan Coogler gave it his all to craft a story that contributed a meaningful new chapter to the Marvel story.
Coogler accomplished all of this despite the fact that the part of T’Challa was never recast when Chadwick Boseman tragically lost his fight with illness in August 2020. With hundreds of A-list stars stepping up to carry the story and take the MCU to new heights, the sequel was mostly a tribute to the MCU’s first Black leading man.
With that out of the way, I present the 23 supporting cast members of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
23 Main Actors In Black Panther 2 And The Characters They Play
1.) Shuri/Black Panther (Letitia Wright)
Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, emerged as the film’s central figure after she attempted to develop a treatment for T’Challa before his untimely death. Before she took her largest stride forward as an MCU heroine, she spent the rest of the movie immersed in her profession and attempting to negotiate with Talokan to avert conflict.
The Black Panther legend was revived when the princess of Wakanda took on the role of protecting her country and became known as the Black Panther.
Despite Shuri’s assumption of the throne in the final film, Black Panther 2 writer Joe Robert Cole claimed that M’Baku and Nakia were among those considered to be T’Challa’s heirs.
2.) Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett)
Ramonda, played by Angela Bassett, reclaimed her position as Queen of Wakanda following her son’s death and became the film’s emotional centre. Despite her best efforts to demonstrate Wakanda’s global standing and safeguard her people, she was the film’s most prominent victim when Namor flooded the palace.
Ramonda’s sacrifice during Wakanda’s struggle devastated her nation, but her death also motivated Shuri and her people to commemorate their dead Queen by devising a strategy to ensure victory.
Wakanda Forever’s performance by Bassett was so impressive that she became the first Marvel Cinematic Universe actor or actress to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Performance.
3.) Okoye (Danai Gurira)
In Black Panther 2, Okoye’s career took some unexpected turns, including her removal as Dora Milaje General when she and Shuri were separated during a mission to the United States. Shuri created a new outfit for Okoye to wear in combat against Namor and Talokan, but that didn’t stop her from playing a significant role in the plot.
This granted her the ability to adopt the name Midnight Angel and gain access to incredible new abilities, such as superhuman strength. Even though she’s a civilian, her new attire and role will prepare her for a special voyage in Wakanda.
It appears like Gurira has a lot more to give in the MCU, as the actress has been subtly hinting that a spin-off for Okoye on Disney+ is in the works.
4.) M’Baku (Winston Duke)
As the Jabari tribe is no longer cut off from the rest of Wakanda, Winston Duke’s M’Baku has a very different position in Black Panther 2. After Ramonda’s death, he helped Shuri in whatever way he could while serving on Wakanda’s governing council and using his influence to oppose Namor and his people.
After attending Shuri’s coronation ceremony, he was given the opportunity to challenge for the throne of Wakanda, setting the stage for an even larger role in future Black Panther narratives.
5.) Ayo (Florence Kasumba) (Florence Kasumba)
Once Okoye was removed as leader of the Dora Milaje, Florence Kasumba’s Ayo resumed her prominent position within the organization, even becoming its General. She’s joined Okoye and the rest of her Dora soldiers on the massive battleship in the middle of the Atlantic to help them fight Namor.
In addition, the film’s final scene, in which Ayo alludes to her relationship with another member of Wakanda’s royal guards, makes her the latest LGBTQIA+ hero in the MCU.
6.) Aneka (Michaela Coel)
In Black Panther 2, Michaela Coel’s Aneka fills that role as Ayo’s partner, and they share a sweet forehead kiss after Ayo and Talokan finally settle their dispute. But before that, she demonstrates that she is a formidable combatant in her own right.
While the other Dora utilises spears, Aneka stands out by wielding a pair of gleaming blue blades that Shuri designed for her. She fights alongside Okoye in the final showdown as a fellow Midnight Angel.
Originally, Aneka and Ayo featured a deeper romance subplot that built up to the first lesbian kiss in Marvel Studios history. This exchange between the two characters was ultimately scrapped in favor of a much shorter one near the film’s conclusion.
7.) Griot, Shuri’s AI (Trevor Noah)
Longtime Trevor Noah, the presenter of The Daily Show, provided the voice for Shuri’s AI, Griot, in the blockbuster film Black Panther (2018). It’s no surprise to hear Noah’s voice again, especially because he hinted at having a role in the movie a few weeks before its release and her technology is making a big comeback in Black Panther 2.
Noah made a very profound impression when he sought to aid Shuri in her efforts to recreate the Heart-Shaped Herb, both during her quest to save T’Challa and before she became the Black Panther.
8.) Graham, M.D. (Lake Bell)
Lake Bell, who previously voiced Black Widow in the first season of What If…?, made her live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in Black Panther 2 as Dr. Gloria Graham. Her protagonist joined the crew of the ship exploring the depths of the ocean in Talokan in quest of Vibranium, where Riri Williams’ detecting machine was being used.
The crew soon met the wrath of Namor the Sub-Mariner, who led his army in an attack that resulted in the deaths of everyone on the team. Bell’s character attempted to flee in the helicopter in which she had arrived, but Namor used his superhuman strength to toss the helicopter into the water, killing Bell instantly.
9.) Riri Williams/Ironheart (Dominique Thorne)
The movie’s conflict is sparked by Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams/Ironheart, whose Vibranium-detecting technology ultimately leads to war between Namor’s people and Wakanda. The two women eventually track her down to the MIT campus, where she proudly displays her Mark I Ironheart armor to the visitors before she and Shuri are abducted by Namor.
Ramonda sacrifices herself to protect Riri upon her return to Wakanda, motivating Riri to give Wakanda her entire backing while she creates the Mark II suit. The Ironheart series on Disney+ is supposed to be a direct sequel to her first Marvel Cinematic Universe film, but she was only allowed to wear the suit within Wakanda’s borders.
10.) Namor (Tenoch Huerta)
Black Panther 2’s principal nemesis, Namor the Sub-Mariner, was played by Tenoch Huerta, who made Marvel Cinematic Universe history with his interpretation. In response to the United States government’s use of Riri Williams’ equipment to identify Vibranium in Talokan’s underwater homeland, the people of Talokan have petitioned Wakanda for an alliance in order to maintain the secrecy of both countries.
Namor also staked his claim as the newest mutant in the MCU by identifying himself as such and displaying superhuman strength and resilience before going toe-to-toe with Shuri. Surprisingly, the two were able to come to an agreement, and Namor ceased his assault on the surface world in exchange for Wakanda concealing their existence.
Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, has hinted that fans may see more of the mutant hero Namor in the future, albeit he has not specified where.
11.) Namora (Mabel Cadena)
To aid her government in kidnapping Riri Williams, Namora assumes a leadership role in Namor’s army, fighting alongside Shuri and Okoye in Boston.
Even though Namora is an expert underwater combatant, she must utilize a water-filled breathing device whenever she is above the water’s surface due to being a pure Talokanil. She plays a pivotal role in defending her country, displaying her skills in combat and advising Namor after Riri and Shuri break free of captivity.
12.) Attuma (Alex Livinalli)
Although Attuma is most commonly associated with being an enemy of Namor, he actually backed Talokan’s leader and used his considerable bulk as a sort of virtual battering ram. Even though he played a significant role in the story—the original bridge fight in Boston versus Okoye—he generally stayed in the background.
Alex Livinalli, star of the Netflix series Attuma, recently discussed the Talokanil’s trademark hand salute, explaining that it serves as both a symbol of respect and a more casual “What’s up, dude?”
13.) River Tribe Elder (Isaach de Bankolé)
Isaach de Bankolé, the River Tribe elder, returns for a brief cameo in which he proudly displays the enormous medallion he inserted into his upper lip. While Nakia is shown to be outside Wakanda’s boundaries throughout the film, de Bankolé’s tribal chief remained within it to support Ramonda and her other council members.
14.) Merchant Tribe Elder (Dorothy Steel)
Just like in the first Black Panther, Dorothy Steel reprised her role as the chief of the Merchant Tribe in the Wakandan council.
The actress Steel passed away in October 2021 at the age of 95, therefore this film part was her last. After having one of the most unusual film careers ever (one that didn’t begin until she was 88 years old), this film gave her a chance to be remembered alongside the late Chadwick Boseman.
15.) Border Tribe Elder (Danny Sapani)
In this film, the head of the Border Tribe, played by Danny Sapani, joined the council with Steel, de Bankolé, and Ramonda in an effort to thwart Namor’s assault. However, Daniel Kaluuya’s W’Kabi was not featured in this film, therefore he was the sole Border Tribe member.
In an early draught of Wakanda Forever, Sapani tried to convince Okoye, not M’Baku, to succeed in the kingdom.
16.) Zawavari, Mining Tribe Elder (Connie Chiume)
Connie Chiume’s participation in the Wakandan council marked the inclusion of the Mining Tribe, the fourth of the founding tribes. In her brief appearance in Black Panther 2, she offered Ramonda and the royal family some advice before they met to discuss Namor’s attack.
17.) Namor’s Mother (María Mercedes Coroy)
The background of the antihero Namor was helped by the brief appearance of Guatemalan actress Mara Mercedes Coroy, who represented the antihero’s mother as the Talokanil was transformed into an aquatic race. Considering her human origins, she died in the late 16th century while Namor continued to develop and grow throughout the succeeding decades.
18.) Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o)
It took a while for Lupita Nyong’o to make an appearance, but she more than made up for it with a fantastic performance as Nakia detailed her activities since Black Panther in 2018. Despite having T’Challa on her mind the entire time, she departed Wakanda after that movie and has spent the past six years working as an undercover spy for the War Dogs in Haiti, where she has been instrumental in helping that country achieve economic success.
In the post-credits sequence of Black Panther 2, Nakia revealed that she and T’Challa had a son shortly after the events of the first film. She had spent the last six years shielding him from the scrutiny of Wakanda society in order to help him mature naturally before he assumed his royal duties.
19.) Everett Ross (Martin Freeman)
In his third Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance, Martin Freeman helped Shuri and Okoye find Riri Williams after Namor attacked. In the aftermath of the bridge battle between the Wakandans and the Talokanil, he discovered Shuri’s kimoyo beads and surreptitiously assisted Okoye in her search for the missing Wakandan princess, getting himself into deep difficulty with the CIA.
After being apprehended by the CIA, Okoye bailed him out of jail and brought him to Wakanda, where he and T’Challa could settle their debts in peace. In addition, viewers were surprised to learn that he had been married before—and to a character, they were already familiar with and disliked.
20.) Val (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)
In her most prominent role to date in the MCU, Julia Louis-Dreyfus played CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who also happened to be Everett Ross’ ex-wife.
She displayed her villainy once again when she told Ross that she had been following Shuri’s kimoyo beads from the moment he had taken them, resulting in his incarceration as she fantasized about what the United States could do with Wakanda’s Vibranium. After capturing her ex-husband, she disappears from public view, but she has a major announcement planned for the near future and complete access to the CIA.
In her upcoming show, Thunderbolts, Val will lead an unlikely band of heroes. The villain-to-be is reported to be planning her own danger to the MCU, in the form of a new super soldier.
21.) Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan)
Black Panther’s initial nemesis, Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), returned in spectacular fashion via the Ancestral Plane, putting to rest concerns that he will play a significant role in the sequel. Shuri witnessed Killmonger as she floated through the sea to the Wakandan throne while using her refashioned Heart-Shaped Herb.
The antagonist, Jordan, encourages Shuri to seek revenge against those who killed her mother, claiming that her brother was “too honorable” to take such a course of action. Although he only appeared in one scene, his influence was felt greatly as Shuri donned the Black Panther costume for the first time.
The actor who plays Killmonger recently spoke out about his comeback to the MCU, revealing that he “had to lie to [his] whole family” about the appearance.
22.) Chadwick Boseman – T’Challa (Archival Footage)
At the end of the second Black Panther film, Chadwick Boseman made a touching appearance using footage from the first film. As the new Black Panther sat on the beach outside Nakia’s Haitian home, clips of Shuri and her late brother played softly on a television set.
Shuri shed a few tears as she torched her funeral attire, remembering the times she laughed and joked with Boseman’s hero throughout his reign as Wakanda’s king and guardian. As Boseman made what could have been his final appearance in a Marvel Cinematic Universe story, actress Letitia Wright must have had similar thoughts.
The original plan for Black Panther 2 centered on T’Challa and his recovery from the Blip, whereas the first film mostly established Wakanda and its inhabitants. Coogler was able to recycle ideas from his T’Challa script into the finished Wakanda Forever film.
23.) Toussaint/T’Challa (Divine Love Konadu-Sun)
Black Panther 2’s mid-credits scene confirmed the existence of T’Challa and Nakia’s offspring, as had been speculated about previously in relation to Killmonger. Divine Love Konadu-Sun played the little kid, and while Nakia revealed his real name to be Toussaint, T’Challa also shared his Wakandan name, T’Challa, with his Aunt Shuri.
Toussaint was supposed to play a larger role in the film’s first screenplay, interacting with T’Challa as the two of them performed a Wakandan ceremony as father and son.
Marvel found a way to pay tribute to Chadwick Boseman’s legacy by having his character’s son take the name, and in doing so, set the stage for a new T’Challa to take up the Black Panther mantle and Wakandan monarchy in the future. It will be important to keep an eye on the new T’Challa in the following years, even though there are currently no clues as to where his return could occur.
