When is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever streaming on Disney+?

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is gathering the tribes of Wakanda with the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever on Disney+.

As the follow-up to 2018’s Black Panther, Ryan Coogler is back in the director’s chair with the fan-favourite comic book character following the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman.

While someone else will be popping on the iconic suit, the memory of the OG Black Panther is still roaring loud. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever also has the honour of rounding off Phase 4 of the MCU before we head into Phase 5’s lineup of Blade, Thunderbolts, and more.

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If you’re ready to practice your best Wakandan salute, here’s everything you need to know about the film.

When is Black Panther: Wakanda Forever streaming on Disney+?

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is streaming on Disney+ now.

To say Wakanda Forever had a troubled production would be an understatement. Although Kevin Feige officially confirmed Black Panther 2 at Comic-Con 2019, plans were irrevocably changed by Boseman’s death in August 2020.

He was tapped to return for a trilogy of Black Panther movies, however, his death coming after Coogler had already turned in a first draft for Black Panther 2 meant it had to be adapted to deal with his passing.

The idea of recasting T’Challa was quickly shot down by Feige, while Coogler went away to refine his script. At this point, the release was moved from May 2022 to July 2022. Despite Boseman’s death, filming only moved back three months to June 2021.

Further complications from Wright suffering an on-set injury, COVID restrictions, and Lupita N’yongo testing positive meant Wakanda Forever did not reach cinemas until again to November 2022.

Who is in the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever cast?

Despite Boseman’s passing leaving a hole in the Wakanda Forever cast, there’s thankfully a mix of old and new faces to honour his legacy.

First and foremost, Letitia Wright once again plays Shuri: T’Challa’s inventive sister who created her older brother’s suit in the first movie. Keeping the family ties, Angela Bassett returns as Queen Ramonda, the widow of King T’Chaka and current ruler of Wakanda.

There’s also more from Lupita Nyong’O’s Nakia, who was T’Challa’s love interest in the first movie.

Danai Gurira also returns as the fearsome Okoye to head up the all-female Dora Milaje warriors. Martin Freeman reprises his role as CIA operative Everett Ross, and Winston Duke will once again play M’Baku, the leader of the Jabari tribe.

In terms of newcomers, there’s the much-hyped arrival of Tenoch Huerta as Namor. Dubbed Marvel’s first mutant, Namor the Sub-Mariner predates Marvel Comics alongside the original Human Torch and Captain America as one of Timely Comics’ ‘big three’.

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of Namor, with an Easter egg in 2010’s Iron Man 2 seemingly referring to Namor’s homeland of Atlantis. Namor’s ties to Black Panther were confirmed in Avengers: Endgame when Okoye referred to handling a series of deep-sea earthquakes off the coast of Africa.

I May Destroy You star Michaela Coel makes her MCU arrival as Aneka, the woman who trained the Dora Milaje.

Finally, there’s the debut of Dominique Thorn’s Riri Williams. In a fleeting glimpse of the character in the trailer, we see her honouring her legacy as the next Iron Man by making her own suit. It’s a subtle throwback to Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark doing the same in 2008’s Iron Man. Ironheart will be getting her own Disney+ show in the near future.

What happens in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?

After opening the borders of Wakanda at the end of the first movie, the once-secretive nation has to deal with the fallout of this and the loss of its king. In one heartfelt moment in the trailer, Queen Ramonda says: “I am Queen of the most powerful nation in the world, and my entire family is gone. Have I not given everything?”

The shadow of death obviously hangs over Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as we see Ramonda and Shuri dressed in white while the latter carries her brother’s helmet. Easily the trailer’s biggest moment is the appearance of someone new in the Black Panther suit, which confirms the hero won’t be retired because of T’Challa’s death.

The movie’s big conflict is between Atlantis and Wakanda. Both are described as sophisticated civilisations, but as Wakanda makes the most of its access to vibranium, Atlantis is worried surface dwellers will once again ravage its mythical realm.

Here’s the official synopsis: “Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death.

“As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.”

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is streaming on Disney+ now.