We recently learned that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will cease production indefinitely while actress Letitia Wright (Shuri) recovers from an on-set injury, but we do have one more rumor to share with you guys before cameras stop rolling, and it's a big one!
Warning: This sounds like a major plot point and something Marvel Studios has attempted to keep under wraps, so if you'd rather not be spoiled, best stop reading now.
We've been assured that the Black Panther sequel will honor the late Chadwick Boseman while continuing the legacy of his character, T'Challa, and we may now know how Marvel and director Ryan Coogler intend to achieve this. According to Cosmic Circus - who have been putting some pretty significant scoops out there of late - the movie will introduce the son of T'Challa and Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o).
Though the plan is no doubt to have the lad take up the mantle of Black Panther at some point, he is not expected to do so in this film. There's been a lot of speculation that Shuri will serve as Wakanda's protector in the wake of her brother's death, but, if this report proves to be accurate, we wouldn't be surprised if she eventually passes on that responsibility to her nephew.
In the comics, T'Challa has a son with Ororo/Storm named Azari, and while the name might will stick, the child of T'Challa and Nakia will most likely be a completely new character.
Again, this is only a rumor for now so best not to put too much stock in it until we learn more, but it does make a lot of sense. How would you guys feel about T'Challa's son carrying on his father's legacy as the MCU's new Black Panther?