Though there was never really any doubt, Winston Duke has now confirmed that he will return as M'Baku for Marvel Studios' Black Panther sequel.
The Us actor told Collider that he will indeed reprise the role of the fan-favorite leader of the Jabari Tribe while speaking about his new film Nine Days, and while he wouldn't go into any specifics about the plot, he did talk about what it was like being back on set in the wake of Chadwick Boseman's (T'Challa) death.
"It was very emotional to read the script. It was emotional to pack to go back to set. But we're all a bit of a family now and we grieve together, and we're making something really special," said Duke.
Boseman tragically passed away last August after a 4-year battle with colon cancer. The role of T'Challa will not be recast, and while Shuri (Letitia Wright) is the favorite to take up the mantle of Black Panther, some would prefer to see M'Baku honor his old foe-turned-ally by assuming the responsibility of Wakanda's protector .
A rumor that Narcos Mexico actor Tenoch Huerta will play Namor in the movie recently did the rounds, but that obviously remains to be seen.
Marvel Studios announced that the highly-anticipated sequel will be titled Wakanda Forever during a recent Phase 4 preview. Specific plot details remain under wraps, but a brief logline tells us that "Wakanda Forever will continue to explore the incomparable world of Wakanda and all of the rich and varied characters introduced in the first film."