Marvel's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has cast British actress/writer/producer/director/singer Michaela Coel in a mysterious role.
Variety reports that the I May Destroy You star has signed on for Ryan Coogler's sequel, but don't provide any details whatsoever on who she might be playing. As you might expect, there's already a lot of speculation that Coel could take on the role of X-Men's Ororo Monroe, aka Storm, who has been rumored to make her MCU debut in the movie. There are obviously other possibilities, though, as the movie has also been rumored to feature a female villain.
Coel is probably best known for creating and starring in E4 sitcom Chewing Gum, for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Female Comedy Performance, and the BBC One/HBO comedy-drama series I May Destroy You, which won her the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress in 2021. She has also appeared in the likes of Black Mirror and Black Earth Rising.
The first film's star, Chadwick 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 Winston Duke's 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."