Marvel Studios Just Unveiled the New Female Black Panther

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Marvel’s cinematic universe now has a second Black Panther! The new Disney+ series, *Eyes of Wakanda*, introduces a female successor to the role previously held by Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, who first appeared in *Captain America: Civil War*. Following Boseman’s passing in 2020, the MCU needed a new Black Panther, and a female hero stepped up. Even from the beginning, Wakanda showcased powerful women like Danai Gurira’s Okoye and the Dora Milaje, who acted as the kingdom’s elite security force. In *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever*, they were further enhanced with advanced technology, becoming known as the Midnight Angels.

Disney+’s *Eyes of Wakanda* introduced the sixth Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and only the second female one ever. This new Black Panther, shrouded in mystery and known as the Last Panther, will one day be Wakanda’s Queen Mother in the 24th century. She uses time travel to go back to 1896 on a critical mission.

I’ve been a fan of Black Panther for years, and I recently learned that the MCU isn’t the first time Wakanda’s had more than one hero with that title! In the comics, there was Iya Nehanda, a queen from the 11th century. She wasn’t just royalty, though – she was trained in magic and actually *challenged* for the throne before becoming Wakanda’s Black Panther. It’s amazing to see how rich the history of Wakanda and the Black Panther mantle really is!

In addition to her other accomplishments, Nehanda once fought with the early Avengers, even battling alongside a young Thor. Stories say that when Thor was hurt, Nehanda was able to lift and use his hammer, Mjolnir, in combat.

Currently, it hasn’t been officially confirmed if Iya Nehanda is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This means there are only two female characters who have been Black Panther in the MCU so far.

Shuri – Letitia Wright

When Chadwick Boseman, the actor who played T’Challa in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was central to the success of *Black Panther*, tragically passed away in 2020, Marvel Studios faced a huge challenge. Production on the sequel, *Wakanda Forever*, hadn’t even begun yet.

After T’Challa’s death, both the future of Wakanda and the Black Panther mantle fell to his sister, Shuri, played by Letitia Wright. Her path to becoming a hero was filled with hardship, as she grieved the loss of her brother to a mysterious illness and witnessed the tragic murder of her mother, Queen Ramonda, by Namor.

After the loss of her brother, Shuri vowed to avenge him and became the first confirmed female Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, potentially the first woman ever to hold the title. While she accepted the responsibility of protecting Wakanda, she didn’t appear interested in becoming queen, seemingly leaving those duties to M’Baku.

Shuri is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe next year with her signature combination of fighting skills and scientific brilliance. She’ll have a larger role in *Avengers: Doomsday* than she did in *Infinity War* and *Endgame*.

The Last Panther – Anika Noni Rose

If Shuri truly was the first woman to become the Black Panther, it would have been a groundbreaking moment with lasting impact on Wakanda.

The comic series *Eyes of Wakanda* introduced a new Black Panther – a woman from the year 2323, roughly 300 years in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This character becomes Wakanda’s Queen Mother and will do anything to protect her nation from an alien attack.

Following a devastating attack on Wakanda, the Last Panther traveled back in time to 1896. His mission was to correct events surrounding Michael B. Jordan’s character, Kilmonger, as seen in the 2018 film *Black Panther*. By ensuring these events unfolded correctly, T’Challa would ultimately choose to reveal Wakanda to the world, gaining allies to help defend against an alien invasion.

This Wakandan hero, originally from the distant future, possessed highly advanced technology. Her suit, in particular, was capable of creating realistic illusions, allowing her to project images of the Horde directly into the minds of Tafari and Kuda.

The MCU’s Next Black Panther Will Probably Be Male

Now that Letitia Wright has taken on the role of Black Panther, Marvel Studios is searching for another hero from Wakanda. This new character could either become the main protector of the nation in future films, or team up with Shuri as a co-protector.

After debuting T’Challa’s son, Toussaint, in *Black Panther: Wakanda Forever*, Marvel is reportedly looking for an actor to play an older version of T’Challa II. *F1* star Damson Idris is a potential candidate for the part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Okay, so just because the movie hints at something bad happening to Shuri doesn’t automatically mean she’s doomed! Apparently, the original idea for *Wakanda Forever* was to have her and Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa team up as Black Panthers, fighting together. It’s good to know they had such awesome plans for both of them!

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2025-09-14 06:35