Unmasking the Wakandan Secrets in Captain America: Brave New World

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Summary

  • Captain America: Brave New World introduces a new Captain America, Sam Wilson, with a Wakandan-designed suit and tech upgrades.
  • The movie may feature connections to Black Panther characters like Shuri, M’Baku, and Okoye.
  • Despite troubled production, the film could surprise fans with unexpected character appearances and ties to the wider MCU.

In a unique turn of events, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is venturing back into familiar yet scarce territory with “Captain America: A New World Order.” Despite a shift in leadership, Captain America remains shoulder-to-shoulder with Thor as one of the two heroes to spearhead four solo films. Preparing to share the four-film club with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the upcoming “Spider-Man 4,” Captain America faces renewed political turmoil and international conflict in “Captain America: A New World Order.

As a movie critic looking back on my experiences, I’ve always been captivated by the evolution of characters within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After making his entrance in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” back in 2014, Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson is now donning the Captain America shield. With Wilson’s official ascension to the title in Disney+’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” fans were left intrigued by a fresh take on the classic Captain America narrative without Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) steering the ship.

The trailers for the upcoming film, “Brave New World,” hint at its connection to the broader MCU. However, with numerous surprises likely concealed, one can’t help but wonder if the fourth Captain America movie could secretly feature a significant cameo from none other than the Black Panther himself?

Captain America: Brave New World’s Black Panther Connection

In the movie “Brave New World,” we see Captain America wearing a fresh outfit that harkens back to his Falcon days, implying he’ll now have flying capabilities. A series of shots depict him gliding near the celestial remains of Tiamut, a connection also hinted at in the 2021 film “Eternals.” One scene even suggests an intense battle with Harrison Ford’s character, Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross/Red Hulk. Additionally, it has been speculated that Tiamut is composed of adamantium, which could potentially upgrade Chris Evans’ Captain America suit. However, this isn’t the only change made to the new outfit.

In the finale of “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier”, Wilson tested a revamped Captain America suit thanks to Wakanda Design Group. However, it appears that he will receive an upgraded version of this suit in the upcoming “Captain America” film. This new suit includes a complete helmet for assisting with supersonic flight and incorporates advanced Wakandan technology. Keen-eyed viewers noticed a purple light emitting from the suit when Sam sustains damage, which resembles the impact tech that Shuri (Letitia Wright) created for T’Challa’s Black Panther suit in 2016’s “Black Panther”.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but share the significance Mackie highlighted regarding his Wakandan suit. Speaking at the Disney APAC Content Showcase in Singapore, he eloquently discussed its importance.

I visited the land of Wakanda, interacted with all its residents, and we shared an enjoyable meal together. The experience was fantastic! Upon my arrival, they organized a warm welcome celebration for me. It was amazing! As I prepared to depart, they gifted me a suit. Quite cool, wasn’t it?

In this scenario, it seems that transitions to Wakanda might be missing in Brave New World, given its existing abundance of characters such as Thunderbolt Ross, Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres/Falcon, Shira Haas’ Ruth Bat-Seraph, and Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel Sterns/the Leader. Nevertheless, the suit and its advanced Wakandan technology appear significant to the plot. Mackie further stated:

I wear it. With this, I can kick stronger, move faster through the air, and enhance my agility significantly – it’s elevating all of my abilities to an entirely new realm.

Despite Mackie only mentioning that the Wakandan Design Group is responsible for his new suit, without specifically naming Shuri, it opens up intriguing opportunities for cameos. Instead of just Wakandan technology appearing in Brave New World, characters from the Black Panther films could potentially make an appearance as well.

Could Shuri Appear in Captain America: Brave New World?

Following the global unveiling of Wakanda at the conclusion of Black Panther, the nation has been embroiled in political strife ever since, a fact made clear in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever where it found itself engaged in a war with not only the CIA but also the underwater realm of Talokan. Queen Ramonda, portrayed by Angela Bassett, represented Wakanda at the United Nations. However, her untimely death in Wakanda Forever and M’Baku, played by Winston Duke, now ruling as its king, could potentially make an appearance in Brave New World during its White House scenes.

A more significant addition could be that of Black Panther (Lupita Nyong’o), especially considering Shuri’s departure from Wakanda at the end of “Wakanda Forever” and her reunion with Naikia in Haiti, where she met T’Challa’s son. Similarly, Danai Gurira’s Okoye, who was last seen rescuing Everett K. Ross, could also be a potential character. In a deleted scene, Okoye was shown alongside Shuri and hinted at her future with the Midnight Angels. Given these connections, Shuri seems like an ideal candidate to rekindle fans’ interest in Black Panther before the next two “Avengers” films, and also to prepare for Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther 3”.

In the intriguing realm of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow shone brightly in “The Winter Soldier,” demonstrating that Captain America films are indeed stellar team efforts. However, if Shuri was to take center stage, it would have been hinted at or showcased by now, given the nature of these productions. Regrettably, no definitive timeline for Shuri’s return has been announced, but she’s slated to join a vast array of characters in the epic “Secret Wars.” If she misses out on the grand stage of “Avengers: Doomsday” and doesn’t reconnect with Riri Williams in “Ironheart,” it could be half a decade since we last saw her in action.

As a devoted fan, it’s not hard to imagine a casual reference to where Sam acquired his latest suit in Brave New World could subtly hint at a Black Panther tie-in. If Tiamut had been crafted from vibranium instead of adamantium, it would have made it easier to weave the Black Panther character into the narrative. Instead, there seems to be a tentative connection to Wolverine, serving as a hint for the upcoming introduction of the X-Men in the MCU. It’s unfortunate that Wright’s tenure as Black Panther might be brief, given the speculation that the MCU is preparing to recast T’Challa following the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman.

In the upcoming movie “Captain America: Brave New World,” there’s a strong possibility of unexpected elements arising as it concludes Phase 5 alongside movies like Julius Onah’s untitled project and Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts. The turbulent production history of “Brave New World” may even provide an opportunity to introduce some unanticipated characters. With a stellar cast already in place, it’s not necessary to incorporate any characters from “Black Panther,” but bringing back characters from this cherished segment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe could be a smart move for the franchise.

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2025-01-23 02:36