In Avengers: Doomsday, Wakanda’s leading figures are set to return to the center of a massive superhero ensemble, including Shuri (Letitia Wright), the current Black Panther. The mantle has one of the most intricate legacies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the video above from Looper provides a refresher on the characters who have carried the title.
Chadwick Boseman introduced the MCU’s original Black Panther, T’Challa, appearing in several projects before headlining Ryan Coogler’s acclaimed 2018 film. Black Panther became a major box-office success and established Boseman as one of the franchise’s most important stars. His death in 2020, at age 43, after privately battling colon cancer for several years, brought a devastating real-world loss. However, his passing did not end the Black Panther story—instead, it sent the character’s on-screen future in a complicated new direction.
The MCU has seen multiple Black Panthers, and a new one is on his way
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Unlike heroes such as Spider-Man, Black Panther is not tied to a single individual. In the MCU, the title traditionally belongs to a prominent young member of Wakanda’s royal family who wears the suit and receives the powers of the heart-shaped herb. The live-action films have featured T’Chaka (John Kani), T’Challa, and Shuri as major holders of the mantle. Erik “Killmonger” Stevens, also known as N’Jadaka (Michael B. Jordan), briefly claimed the role during the events of Black Panther.
Shuri officially became Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, ensuring that Wakanda’s champion remained part of the MCU’s future. Yet the franchise has already introduced a potential successor. In the planned 2028 film Black Panther 3, David Jonsson is set to play T’Challa—a character who is likely the secret son of the original T’Challa and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), first revealed near the end of Wakanda Forever. Despite the tragedy that has shaped the character’s MCU journey, Black Panther’s story continues, and Looper’s video above brings viewers up to speed.