Warning. Spoilers for Black Panther follow…
With a sequel to Black Panther “absolutely” happening at Marvel, we’ll have to wait a couple of months until Avengers: Infinity War is out of the way to see which supporting characters survive the Battle of Wakanda and could make their return in the follow-up to Marvel’s latest superhero blockbuster.
One character we’re probably not expecting to see again however is T’Challa’s mentor Zuri, played by Forest Whitaker, seeing as he met his end at the hands of Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger in the solo movie. However, Whitaker himself isn’t ruling it out, and even has his own thoughts on how Zuri could make his return.
“I guess I would be like an Obi-Wan Kenobi, you know, who comes back, he talks from the ancestral plane to give advice to T’Challa,” the actor told ET. “Chadwick Boseman’s amazing in the film. Ryan Coogler’s done such an amazing job, so proud to be in it.”
As Whitaker notes, the ancestral plane is firmly established in Black Panther when we see both T’Challa and Killmonger visiting their late fathers, and while Zuri doesn’t appear to be an ancestor of T’Challa, I’m sure that could be overlooked should Marvel feel the need to bring Zuri back to offer a few words of wisdom.
SEE ALSO: Why Black Panther Shouldn’t Be Nominated for Best Picture
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returnsohome to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
Black Panther sees Ryan Coogler (Creed) directing Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa alongside Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Winston Duke as M’Baku, Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, Martin Freeman as Everett Ross, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, John Kani as King T’Chaka and Nabiyah Be as Linda.