91����

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is out, and I can’t keep calm about it. One of the most anticipated films of 2022, this sequel manages to be action-packed and grounded in emotion at the same time. Between the drama and fight scenes, here are some moments you might’ve missed watching Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. 

Shuri and Killmonger have similar Black Panther suits 

Shuri and Killmonger have a lot in common, being two people who became Black Panthers out of a desire to avenge the deaths of their loved ones. A cool move the film made to point to this similarity is seen in the design of Shuri’s suit. Just like Killmonger’s, hers has gold details, while her brother, T’Challa’s suit had silver details. 

The film’s reference to Chadwick’s actual death 

Chadwick Boseman’s death in 2020 was a massive surprise to his fans and most of the Black Panther cast. The actor allegedly hid his colon cancer diagnosis from everyone on set and worked through the pain. Referencing this silence in a scene between Shuri and Namor, Shuri mentions her brother “suffered in silence” and didn’t reach out to her for help until it was too late. 

Ironheart and Iron Man have more in common than you think 

Yes, Riri Williams is set to replace the massive iron-sized hole in our hearts after Tony Stark, a.k.a Iron Man, died in Avengers: Endgame. But did you also notice she’s a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) student, just like Stark was, as revealed in Captain America: Civil War? Fun educational fact. 

Chadwick Boseman’s real birthday makes an appearance 

In a blink-and-you-’ll-miss-it moment, Wakanda Forever references Chadwick Boseman’s birthday towards the end of the film, when Okoye rescues Agent Ross. If you look closely at the plate number of the car he’s locked in, you’ll see the plate number “CB112976”, a direct reference to Chadwick’s birthday — November 19, 1976. 

RECOMMENDED: 7 Must Listen Songs on the New Black Panther Soundtrack

Guess the comedian who voices Shuri’s AI, Griot? 

If your money was on The Daily Show Host, Trevor Noah, you’re absolutely correct. 

Namor might signal the arrival of the X-Men 

While sharing the backstory of how he became the Serpent King, Namor refers to himself as a mutant, a term that isn’t common in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But with X-Men moving into the MCU space just like Spiderman did, Namor’s statement might imply that Marvel Studios is ready to fully explore their mutant characters moving forward. 

Is M’Baku a vegetarian for real? 

One funny scene from the first Black Panther was when M’Baku threatened to feed Agent Ross to his children before revealing he was joking because his family are vegetarians. In Wakanda Forever, we see M’Baku eating carrots at least twice during the film, which might hint he’s actually vegetarian. 

References to the upcoming Antman film 

While it was cool to have actual CNN anchorman Anderson Cooper break most of the fictional news on TV in Wakanda Forever, his presence might’’ve distracted you from reading the headlines on the screen. In one scene, while announcing Queen Ramonda’s death, we can see a headline that references Scott Lang, AKA Antman, stating that the superhero is now a celebrity based on his memoir. This seems random, but since the next Marvel film is Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantomania, I doubt it’s a coincidence. 

Shuri remembers M’Baku’s diss 

Shuri never forgets. In a tender scene between the new Black Panther and M’Baku after her mother’s burial, Shuri reminds the towering M’Baku of the time he referred to her as a “child who scoffs at tradition”. However, things are good between them, as M’Baku advises Shuri against succumbing to her grief and thirst for revenge. 

ALSO READ: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Is Great, But Some Things Are Off