Marvel Studios is presently something of a leaky ship. While that big Ms. Marvel reveal was successfully kept under wraps, the entire plots for films like Eternals and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness found their way online months before they were released in theaters.
Now, it appears to be Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's turn.
Fans have lots of questions about this sequel, and most are answered in this newly surfaced recap. Not every facet of the movie is covered, but we have intel on who the next Black Panther will be, Namor the Submariner and Ironheart's roles, and a big post-credits scene surprise. Of course, you shouldn't need us to tell you that we're getting into MAJOR SPOILERS here!
With that in mind, you'll need to click on the NEXT button below to read through this breakdown...
Namor The Submariner Rises From The Depths
There were hints in Avengers: Endgame that something strange might be going on in the world's oceans, and now, there's even a giant marble Celestial sat in the Indian Ocean.
Does that bring Namor the Submariner to the surface? While those may be contributing factors, it's said that Lake Bell plays an original character who is searching the oceans for Vibranium using a device created by Riri Williams. This appears to cause some sort of problem in the depths, prompting Namor to attack those scientists and ask Wakanda for help.
Namor wants to kill Riri, so we're guessing her device has either exposed the MCU's Atlantis to the world (putting its citizens at risk) or done some sort of irreparable damage.
T'Challa's Farewell
Chadwick Boseman passed away following a lengthy battle with cancer that, sadly, he was unable to overcome. The world mourned the actor and fans wondered how the Black Panther franchise could continue without him.
Marvel Studios has chosen not to recast the hero, but T'Challa needs to be written out of the MCU somehow. It's previously been said that Boseman won't be portrayed through visual effects, but this leak claims the hero passes away from a "sickness." Whether that happens on or off screen has not yet been revealed.
If T'Challa is also going to succumb to cancer, then we hope Marvel Studios take this opportunity to raise awareness about the disease and its seriousness.
Riri Williams' Role As Ironheart
As noted, Namor wants to kill Riri Williams. Wakanda decides to protect her, leading to the fictional African nation clashing with the King of Atlantis.
The hero's first suit is supposedly made from spare parts Riri has salvaged from cars, though she gets a major upgrade upon arriving in Wakanda. This is an interesting way to throw the character into the mix, and being caught in the midst of this clash is likely going to play a significant role in forging her into the hero known as Ironheart.
Riri's fans may be concerned about her being portrayed in a villainous light, but it turns out she's been set up. We'll get to who was responsible a little later, however.
The New Black Panther
Who is the new Black Panther? That has been the question on everyone's lips since Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was first announced, and this leak claims it will be Letitia Wright's Shuri.
With Wakanda under attack and T'Challa dead, Shuri supposedly creates an artificial version of the Heart-Shaped Herb and travels to the Ancestral Plane to become the new Black Panther. Expecting to find her brother there, Shuri instead finds Erik Killmonger.
We're not sure why, but he guides her and helps the hero become the new Black Panther. Back in Wakanda, Shuri creates a new suit and takes over the mantle.
War
Wakanda has come under attack from Namor, with parts of the country flooded by the Atlantean. Shuri's mother, Ramonda, also passes away, leaving it down to her (and Ironheart, we're assuming) to save the day.
A huge battle ensues that sees the new Black Panther eventually defeat Namor. She doesn't kill him, and his fate is left unclear from this leak. We can't believe Marvel Studios would use Namor as a one-off character, though, so we'd hope that the anti-hero's story will continue elsewhere.
By the time all is said and done, Shuri is the new Black Panther and M'Baku becomes the King of Wakanda. Nakia, meanwhile, reveals that she and T'Challa had a son.
There's still one surprise left, though...
Doom Is Coming
Who sent that team of scientists into the ocean? That was the cause of this conflict and seemingly what led to Namor deciding to take aim at Wakanda in a war that's bound to have destabilised both nations.
A mid-credits scene introduces the MCU's version of Doctor Doom. We don't have many details to share, but he's been pulling the strings from the shadows, likely because both Wakanda and Atlantis have something he and Latveria wants. This also echoes the comics where the Doomwar event saw Victor Von Doom attempt to take Wakanda for himself.
We don't know who is playing Doom or how he'll link up to the Fantastic Four, but this debut is one that promises to leave jaws on the floor.
h/t DanielRPK