Wakanda Forever Images feature Nakia, Riri Williams and M'Baku

Black Panther Wakanda Forever just released some new images via Empire Magazine which has a big feature story out about Ryan Coogler’s Marvel film.

In the new Wakanda Forever images from the feature story, Riri Williams a.k.a. Ironheart (played by Dominique Thorne) is in the royal chambers with Angela Bassett’s Ramonda. Another image shows what is most likely Nakia (played by Lupita Nyongo) dressed for T’Challa’s funeral. There are also images of Nakia and Riri together as well as M’Baku (played by Winston Duke) standing stronger than ever.

There is no doubt Black Panther Wakanda Forever will be an emotionally engaging film. The new images reveal a genuine look of concern in these actors’ eyes and the loss of Chadwick Boseman gives this film a deeper meaning for them. Though the full story is unknown, it’s probably safe to say that the characters will have to carry on T’Challa’s legacy and based off the first teaser trailer, you can already tell the actors have invested a lot of their emotions making this film.

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige spoke to Empire Magazine about Black Panther Wakanda Forever. The publication specifically asked about the decision not to recast T’Challa for Black Panther 2. While some fans were ok with it, the creative team never considered it. Instead, they decided to honor Boseman’s legacy the best they knew how and revisit that question another time.

“It just felt like it was much too soon to recast,” Feige said. He revealed the plan is to follow the comics that inspired much of the MCU. “Stan Lee always said that Marvel represents the world outside your window. And we had talked about how, as extraordinary and fantastical as our characters and stories are, there’s a relatable and human element to everything we do. The world is still processing the loss of Chad. And Ryan poured that into the story.”

“The conversations were entirely about, yes, ‘What do we do next?'” Feige contined. “And how could the legacy of Chadwick – and what he had done to help Wakanda and the Black Panther become these incredible, aspirational, iconic ideas – continue? That’s what it was all about.”

Here is Marvel Studios’ recent synopsis for Black Panther Wakanda Forever

“In Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,’ Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), Okoye (Danai Gurira) M’Baku (Winston Duke) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.”

Black Panther Wakanda Forever premieres in theaters November 11, 2022. You can check out the images below: