*****

In 2018, Ryan Coogler delivered one of the MCU’s most popular offerings when he brought Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s comic book hero T’Challa/Black Panther to life with Chadwick Boseman (Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom) in the main role. Coogler’s film became one of the very first comic book adaptations to feature a predominantly black cast and was set to be the first of a long running franchise for Boseman and his cast mates.

Plans for a sequel however changed when Boseman sadly died of colon cancer two years later, leaving MCU fans heartbroken and in shock. With Marvel choosing not to recast Boseman’s role, it fell upon Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole to think of ways of incorporating a brand new storyline around the late star’s character. The result is quite simply one of the best MCU incarnations yet.

After the death of T'Challa, the kingdom of Wakanda faces a new danger from an unknown and very powerful adversary. Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) Shuri (Letitia Wright), M'Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation. As the Wakandans prepare to embrace their next chapter, Shuri must find strength in grief to lead her people to victory and beyond. But can she defeat the powerful Namor (Tenoch Huerta, brilliant) before it's too late.

After a series of disappointing outings over the last couple of years - Eternals and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness spring to mind - it is genuinely refreshing to see a new MCU movie which manages to effortlessly stay true to the ethos of the original franchise. Coogler has relied on a tried and tested formula to bring us a film which is both unafraid of trying out new things all the while taking the story into new and exciting uncharted territories.

Coogler’s film is above all a film about facing grief head on. Far from sweeping T’Challa’s story under the rug and moving onto pastures new, the writer-director has delivered a fitting tribute to Boseman and his role and has allowed us to mourn his death alongside all those who knew him. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a fitting tribute to its fallen hero allowing those who loved him to accept his death with dignity and respect. And while the film is elevated by some truly magnificent performances from all, it is Wright who carries this chapter from start to finish with poise and unbridled maturity.