T’Challa made quite the impression in Captain America: Civil War, so we’re taking a look at Black Panther’s origin story, his role in the movie, and what his solo film might focus on.
There are a lot of great reasons to be excited about the upcoming solo Black Panther movie. Not only does it add a more diverse cast to the collective Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he’s also just a kickass character with a killer vibranium suit. Seriously, did you see that thing? It looked awesome.
T’Challa also adds depth and complexity to the universe, in that he must balance his royal duties and his devotion to protecting his people as a warrior. We haven’t seen this kind of superhero before, and it’s so refreshing to finally get a story like this. We also haven’t dealt a lot with religious belief in the MCU, but T’Challa could provide an opportunity to explore that theme. He doesn’t believe in the afterlife like his father did, and yet Black Panther’s origins are steeped in mythology.
Looking at the history of Black Panther in the comics can provide us with some clues as to the Black Panther movie’s plot, which may include both new and returning characters.
PAST…
Black Panther’s origins have stayed fairly consistent over the years, unlike some of the other superheroes we know and love. T’Challa is the first biological son of King T’Chaka, making him Prince of Wakanda and heir to the throne.
The Black Panther mantle is also a title that gets passed down, but this time from warrior to warrior. When T’Challa fought for his right to become the next Black Panther, he won against the previous holder of the title and then took a heart-shaped herb to link him to the goddess Bast. This provided him with enhanced abilities, including super strength, agility, and endurance.
We don’t know if the MCU is pulling from this specifically, as T’Challa had already taken up his alter ego when we met him in Civil War, but nothing in the movie pointed to a completely different history of Black Panther. Perhaps they won’t even explore his battle for the title, but instead focus on his dual life as both a king and a warrior.
PRESENT…
When we first meet T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War (played by Chadwick Boseman), we know him as nothing more than the prince of Wakanda, visiting Vienna with his father in order to sign the Sokovia Accords. He is a calm, reserved man who comes off as wise beyond his years, there to support his father, the king, as he speaks to those gathered about the importance of this new legislation.
Of course, that’s exactly when everything goes wrong. Zemo, dressed as Bucky, sets off the bomb that kills the king, thrusting the responsibility onto T’Challa’s shoulders ahead of his time. Filled with anger and vengeance, he dons his Black Panther attire and chases after Bucky. It is interesting that someone who believes in the importance of the Accords, which mandates that the government not allow enhanced beings to operate on their own, is so quick to go off book in order to fulfill his personal vendetta.
But T’Challa is not a one-dimensional character. He learns the truth about his father’s death, and he sees how vengeance consumes Tony and Steve. He does not want to be so blinded by his hate that he accidentally brings the wrong person to justice. As a king, as a warrior, and as a man, he knows the importance of letting the law dictate what happens to criminals. His ability to see his own flaws drives him to stop Zemo from committing suicide, allowing him to be stopped through legal means.
T’Challa’s role in Civil War was threaded throughout the movie in a way that meant he was present during the main conflict, but also remained outside the narrative. He continues to be an enigmatic addition to the group, and his strength and wisdom will be a delight to see when he appears in his solo film, scheduled for July 2018.
FUTURE…
Black Panther plot details have been hard to come by, but we did recently learn that both Lupita Nyong’o and Michal B. Jordan are in talks for prominent roles in the movie.
So far, Nyong’o has been pegged as a possible love interest, which means she could end up being a part of the Dora Milaje, the badass warrior women who act as body guards for the royal family and are also candidates to marry the Wakandan ruler. This role would allow for a romantic element in the movie without it being the sole purpose of the character.
Jordan’s role is shrouded in a bit more mystery, though rumor has it he may be playing a villain. If that’s the case, he could be playing Killmonger, who has a vendetta against both Ulysses Klaw and the Wakandan king, who exiled his family for working under the aforementioned villain.
As for possible Black Panther plots, they could go in many different directions, but it seems unlikely that Bucky will be prominent, despite where Civil War left him in the after credits scene. We always want more Bucky, but his addition to the main plot could take away from Black Panther’s solo story, which would be a travesty for such a different and diverse MCU film.
Since Black Panther won’t be coming out for another two years, it also seems unlikely we’ll see the fallout from Civil War, with T’challa going back to his home country in order to take on the mantle of king. By the time this film rolls around, it’s more likely this conflict will already be settled.
Still, some elements of that story could come into play, particularly with the character of Ulysses Klaw. We saw Klaw for the first time in Age of Ultron, where he had been squirreling away vibranium found in Wakanda, but he has a past with more than just Tony Stark. If they do decide to explore Killmonger’s story for the 2018 film, Klaw may appear for the second time in the MCU. Better yet? He’s also wrapped up with the Mandarin, who we suspected could be returning for the possible Iron Man 4 movie.