Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

As Shuri (Letitia Wright) toils away in her laboratory, the weight of her brother T'Challa's (undisclosed actor name) impending demise hangs heavy over her. Her desperation to find a cure is palpable as she works tirelessly, but even the most promising solutions are ultimately rendered hollow by the news that T'Challa has succumbed to his unknown illness, delivered somberly by their mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett). The kingdom of Wakanda is plunged into mourning as they prepare for the funeral procession of their beloved king. Every citizen dons white attire, and a vibrant mural of T'Challa serves as a poignant reminder of his passing. As Shuri and Ramonda lead the cortège to the awaiting ship that will carry her brother's casket to its final resting place, she takes one last moment to lament her loss, the kingdom paying its respects with the traditional Wakandan salute.

The passage of time brings no solace as a year later, Ramonda stands before the United Nations, confronted by the US Secretary of State's stern rebuke for Wakanda's perceived lack of involvement in global affairs. The French Secretary of State adds fuel to the fire, insinuating that Wakandans are secretly stockpiling vibranium for military purposes. Undeterred, Ramonda defends her nation's right to mourn and warns that any attempts to exploit their resources will be met with swift and severe reprisal. The previous night had seen an attempted infiltration of an outreach facility in Mali by mercenaries seeking to acquire vibranium, only to be thwarted by the valiant Dora Milaje warriors led by Okoye (Danai Gurira), who swiftly dispatched the would-be thieves. As a reminder of their vigilance, Okoye brings the captured mercs before the UN, forcing them to kneel in submission.

Meanwhile, in the Atlantic Ocean, Dr. Graham (Lake Bell) and her CIA team are on high alert as they operate a vibranium-detecting machine. Two divers venture into the depths, only to have their mining drill destroyed by unseen assailants. Moments later, a tribe of blue-skinned Talokans emerge from the darkness, unleashing a brutal attack that leaves the ship's crew in shambles. As Dr. Graham and her colleague attempt to flee in a helicopter, they are met with the unyielding might of Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejia), the Talokan leader who snatches the chopper from the skies and sends it plummeting into the ocean.

As Ramonda (Angela Bassett) and Okoye return to Wakanda, they are met with the somber presence of Shuri (Letitia Wright), who remains fixated on her synthetic heart-shaped herb project, a reminder of her failed attempt to revive T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) Black Panther persona. Ramonda attempts to guide Shuri towards closure by suggesting they perform a ceremonial burning ritual to mark the end of their mourning period and celebrate her brother's life. However, Shuri's emotions still simmer beneath the surface, fueled by a deep-seated anger towards the world for T'Challa's passing.

The tranquility is suddenly disrupted by Namor's (Tenoch Huerta) unexpected arrival. He expresses his discontent with T'Challa's decision to reveal Wakanda's existence to the world, claiming it left his own kingdom vulnerable to attack. Namor demands that Ramonda and Shuri locate Everett Ross (Martin Freeman), the creator of the vibranium-detecting machine, warning them that if they fail, he will take drastic measures against Wakanda. He also insists that this revelation remain a secret from the rest of the world.

Ramonda entrusts Okoye with the task of finding Ross, but Shuri tags along, much to her mother's dismay. The unlikely duo travels to Virginia in search of Ross, only to discover that he is not the scientist they were seeking. Instead, he reveals that the true creator of the vibranium-detecting machine is a brilliant teenager named Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) at MIT. Shuri pays Riri a visit at her dorm room, informing her that she must accompany them to Wakanda, while also uncovering the surprising truth that Riri's invention was merely a class project that had been acquired by the CIA.

As tensions escalate, Okoye emerges from Riri's bathroom, her presence leaving no doubt about the urgency of their situation. With Okoye's authoritative backing, Riri is reluctantly convinced to join Ramonda and Shuri on their quest, unaware of the far-reaching consequences that lie ahead.

In a sudden turn of events, Riri leads Shuri and Okoye to her makeshift workshop in the garage, where she's been tinkering with her various projects. However, their clandestine gathering is interrupted by the arrival of FBI agents, prompting the trio to spring into action and make a hasty escape. Riri dons her custom-built iron armor suit, allowing her to take to the skies and fly away from the chaos unfolding below. Meanwhile, Shuri and Okoye attempt to commandeer a vehicle to flee the scene, but their efforts are thwarted by the relentless pursuit of Talokans, who deploy a barrage of water bombs to disable them. Riri's aerial acrobatics prove crucial in shooting down the drone sent to intercept her, before she makes a daring descent onto the bridge where Shuri and Okoye are struggling against the Talokan forces. As the battle rages on, Okoye finds herself facing off against General Attuma (Alex Livinalli), who wields Riri's own spear against her. Despite her valiant efforts, Okoye is ultimately knocked off the bridge, leaving Shuri and Riri at the mercy of their captors.

The next day, Ross arrives at the crime scene on the bridge, where he encounters Contessa Valentina De Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), now director of the CIA and his ex-wife. As Ross surveys the area, he inadvertently retrieves Shuri's Kimoyo Beads, which he later smuggles away to study further.

Meanwhile, Okoye returns to Wakanda, only to be met with a stern rebuke from Ramonda, who strips her of her rank as general and her position as Dora Milaje due to her failure to protect Shuri. Okoye's plea for assistance in tracking down her missing friend falls on deaf ears, leading her to seek the help of Griot (Trevor Noah), Wakanda's AI, instead. Through Griot, Ramonda manages to establish a connection with Ross, who shares intelligence gathered by the CIA regarding the attack on the mining ship. However, Ramonda is unable to reveal any information about Namor's involvement in the incident, leaving Ross with more questions than answers.

Ramonda's arrival in Haiti reunites her with Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), who has been dedicating herself to the noble endeavor of educating the next generation since the cataclysmic event known as The Blip. However, the reunion is bittersweet, as Ramonda notices Nakia's absence from T'Challa's solemn farewell ceremony. The omission stems from Nakia's inability to come to terms with the idea that her dear friend and ally had indeed passed on. Ramonda gently reminds her that, for Wakandans, death is not an end, but rather a transformation into the eternal realm of the ancestors. Despite this, Nakia remains haunted by the memory of T'Challa's passing.

In response to Ramonda's plea for assistance in rescuing Shuri, Nakia embarks on a quest to seek guidance from a local village elder in the Yucatan Peninsula, where she has gained knowledge about Namor and his extraordinary legend. According to myth, Namor is revered as K'uk'ulkan, the Feathered Serpent God.

Meanwhile, down in Talokan, Shuri finds herself adorned with traditional attire as she prepares to meet the enigmatic Namor. As they sit together, Namor begins to recount the poignant tale of his origins. In 1571, his mother, a villager who had been ravaged by smallpox brought on by the arrival of Spanish conquistadors, turned to the god Chaac for salvation. The villagers discovered a mysterious blue substance in the depths of the ocean, which they ingested to cure their afflictions. However, this remedy came at a terrible cost: it transformed their skin to a deep shade of blue and condemned them to life underwater, as they could no longer breathe air.

Namor's birth was marked by a striking difference – his ankles bore wings, granting him the ability to thrive in both land and water environments. His mother's heart remained heavy with longing for her former life on the surface, and upon her passing, Namor discovered the conquistadors pillaging and enslaving his people. The Talokans rose up against their oppressors, with one priest referring to Namor as "un niño sin amor" – a child without love. This poignant label stuck, as Namor's name became synonymous with his lack of affection for the surface world.

As Namor guides Shuri through the wonders of his kingdom, a prosperous and thriving nation not dissimilar from Wakanda, he implores her to join forces in protecting their realms against the perils that lurk on the surface.

As Nakia embarks on a perilous quest to rescue Shuri and Riri from the clutches of Talokan's ruthless warriors, Queen Ramonda finds herself entangled in a delicate diplomatic dance. Her urgent meeting with Namor follows a cryptic conversation with Ross, who reveals that the CIA is poised to strike against Wakanda in retaliation for the mining ship attack. With tensions simmering on the brink of explosion, Ramonda implores Namor to take responsibility for his nation's actions, but he warns her of dire consequences if Wakandans threaten Talokan's exposure.

Meanwhile, Nakia navigates the treacherous underwater realm, neutralizing Namora, Namor's cunning cousin (Mabel Cadena), before she can launch a devastating attack on Shuri. Another Talokan warrior seizes Shuri, but Nakia unleashes a fatal sonic blast to extricate her and Riri from their watery prison. Though they manage to escape, Namor misinterprets the situation as an act of aggression against Wakanda, prompting him to unleash his warriors in a brutal counterattack.

In the midst of this chaos, Nakia reunites with Okoye in the city, only to witness its streets rapidly flooding as Talokan's warriors unleash a relentless barrage of water-bombs. Buildings crumble, and debris swirls through the air as M'Baku (Winston Duke) leads his Jabari warriors into battle. Shuri, meanwhile, fights valiantly with her technological prowess, but Namor's relentless assault on the palace forces Ramonda and Riri to make a desperate bid for survival.

As the city teeters on the brink of collapse, Namor delivers an ultimatum to Shuri: join him in his assault against the surface world or watch Wakanda be reduced to ruin. Though Ramonda manages to pull Riri to safety just before they succumb to the crushing force of the water-bombs, her own fate is sealed.

In the aftermath of this cataclysmic conflict, a solemn funeral procession honors Queen Ramonda's memory. M'Baku attempts to offer Shuri solace and counsel, as T'Challa had instructed him to do, but her grief-stricken heart remains heavy with sorrow. Amidst these somber proceedings, Val takes drastic action by arresting Ross for his clandestine meetings with Ramonda, further exacerbating the already toxic relations between Wakanda and the surface world.

As Wakanda readies itself for the impending arrival of Namor, Shuri devotes herself to perfecting her ingenious "Midnight Angel" suits for Okoye and Aneka (Michaela Coel), while Riri puts her own iron suit through a rigorous testing process. Meanwhile, Shuri makes a groundbreaking discovery - the mysterious bracelet gifted by Namor holds the key to unlocking a revolutionary material that once allowed Talokans to thrive underwater. By combining this substance with T'Challa's DNA, she successfully cultivates a synthetic heart-shaped herb that has the potential to reshape the very fabric of Wakandan society. With Nakia and Okoye by her side, Shuri ingests the herb, plunging herself into the mystical realm of the Ancestral Plane in hopes of seeking guidance from Ramonda.

However, instead of finding solace with her mother's spirit, Shuri is confronted by an unwelcome presence - the vengeful specter of KILLMONGER (Michael B. Jordan). He reveals that she sees him because her desire for retribution against Namor for her mother's untimely demise and her anger over her brother's tragic fate have created a void that can only be filled by his own malevolent energy. Killmonger astutely observes that Shuri is not so different from himself, driven as she is by the same burning need for justice and the same burning sense of betrayal. He also offers a poignant reminder that T'Challa's unwavering nobility would have likely led him to spare Namor's life, just as he spared Zemo after his father's brutal murder.

As Shuri awakens from her journey into the Ancestral Plane, she is left grappling with the weight of Killmonger's words and the crushing realization that her own mother and brother may have abandoned her. Yet, she knows that the time has come for her to assume a leadership role in Wakanda's struggle against Namor. With a newfound sense of purpose, Shuri sets out to claim her rightful place among the kingdom's defenders.

As the tribes gather to debate their next move, a majestic ship soars overhead, and Shuri descends into battle for the first time, donning her stunning new Black Panther armor. M'Baku proudly declares that the Black Panther has indeed returned, and Shuri seizes the opportunity to rally her people with a stirring speech that outlines the plan she has devised with Riri to lure Namor towards dry land, where he can be defeated. With her vision for Wakanda's future now crystal clear, Shuri takes her first steps as a true leader, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

As the Wakandans prepare for battle, they deploy a strategic signal from a vibranium-detecting device, cleverly luring the Talokans into a showdown. The stage is set for a fierce confrontation as Dora Milaje and Jabari warriors clash with their adversaries in a desperate bid to gain the upper hand. Meanwhile, Riri emerges in her newly forged Ironheart armor suit, while Okoye and Aneka soar in with their Midnight Angel suits, ready to unleash their fury upon the enemy.

In the heat of the battle, Namor finds himself at the mercy of Riri's blast, which sends him plummeting toward the ocean below. Shuri seizes the opportunity to snatch him up in her ship, initiating a process that slowly evaporates the water on his skin. As Namor recovers, he becomes embroiled in a fierce tussle with Okoye and Aneka, who valiantly defend their ship against his relentless assault.

The fight rages on as Riri faces off against Namora, unleashing a barrage of blasts that send her opponent crashing into the waves. Okoye, meanwhile, engages Attuma in a spectacular aerial dogfight, ultimately sending him tumbling back to the deck. Shuri, determined to gain the upper hand, attempts to steer their ship toward the desert sands, but Namor's unyielding determination allows him to shatter the vessel and send it plummeting toward the ground.

As the wreckage settles, Shuri and Namor resume their battle, their movements a blur of steel and sweat. Despite his formidable strength, Namor ultimately succumbs to Shuri's cunning, who uses her ship's exhaust system to channel intense heat that weakens him significantly. Seizing the opportunity, Shuri seizes Namor's spear, poised to deliver the finishing blow.

However, as she gazes upon the broken form of her adversary, a vision of Ramonda appears before her, imparting wisdom and guiding her toward a path of mercy and compassion. With newfound resolve, Shuri orders Namor to yield, recognizing that their pursuit of revenge would only perpetuate a cycle of violence. Namor, moved by Shuri's words, ultimately agrees to stand down, and she takes him back to the Talokans, where he calls off his warriors and returns home.

In the aftermath of the battle, Shuri sends Riri back to Boston, but not before entrusting her with a treasured family heirloom - a restored car that once belonged to her father. Meanwhile, Namor addresses Namora, emphasizing the necessity of forming an alliance with Wakanda, as they have few other allies to protect their interests.

As the dust settles on this conflict, Okoye sets out to liberate Ross from captivity, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the complex and turbulent relationships between these nations.

As the warm Haitian sun dips into the horizon, Shuri (Letitia Wright) makes her way to the beachside gathering place, where Nakia (Danai Gurira) awaits. The urgency in Nakia's voice is palpable as she reveals that there's something crucial Shuri must attend to. As they sit together by a crackling campfire, the weight of their shared grief settles in. Shuri sheds her ceremonial garb, allowing herself to finally confront the void left by T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) passing.

In the midst of this solemn reflection, Nakia tenderly introduces Toussaint (Divine Love Konadu-Sun), the young boy who holds a profound significance - he is Shuri's nephew and the son she shared with T'Challa. As they share stories of Ramonda's (Angela Bassett) tender moments with the child, it becomes clear that Toussaint has been living a peaceful life in Haiti, unaware of his true identity as a Wakandan prince.

Toussaint reveals that he has chosen to honor his father's legacy by taking on T'Challa as his own name. Shuri's eyes light up with a mix of sadness and pride as she contemplates the continuation of her brother's noble lineage. As the credits roll, we are reminded of the indelible mark Chadwick Boseman left on our cinematic landscape.

The final moments of the film are dedicated to the beloved actor, whose impact will forever be felt in the world of Wakanda and beyond.