Amid the chaos that reigned since T’Challa’s death, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ties together a story as gracefully as a pirouette in its somber and starkly painful end. But before the politics and the war can begin, Ryan Coogler and his cast weave and wade through the city of Wakanda in mourning. As the eerily silent grief juxtaposes with the beating drums of the funeral, somewhere along the procession, the MCU threads together all the broken hearts, the littered emotions, and the traumatized cast into one singular bubble and with each passing minute kept on healing until tears felt no longer necessary.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Filters Out the Avengers
The closing statement of MCU Phase Four and the final chapter of King T’Challa in the MCU were one and the same. The unspeakable gravitas of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever bounded and echoed through each of its characters, its music, and its honorable execution. The film spends almost the entirety of its narrative portraying Wakanda’s chaotic existence on the fringes of the public and the private. And so, Ryan Coogler stands firm on the one factor that could take away the singularly pure moment in the film that is not about the future of the Black Panther, or the impending war, or the politics.
The tragedy emulated in the Wakandan celebration of the life and legacy of their king and protector was one that was also meant for grieving the loss and honoring the memory of the actor who gave so much and was taken away too soon. It is only sensible that the funeral that was held on the sets of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would not be turned into a gala affair defined by eye-catching cameos and transitory appearances from members of the Avengers. In fact, the lamenting melody accompanying the coffin of T’Challa to the end of the road lent more depth and gravity to the somber scene than an overdone gathering of A-listers could possibly do.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always maintained a due course in its (mostly) linear narrative with Kevin Feige mapping out the majority of the timeline and its consequential events. An uncalled-for gathering of the Avengers in a film that is not exclusively about them would require a rearrangement of contractual terms, legal soliciting, and a massive budget to pay for each of the Avenger actor’s visits. Not only will that take away the honesty of what Coogler and the entire Black Panther: Wakanda Forever cast were attempting to portray but would also turn the scene into an opportunity for a cheap cash grab for Marvel Studios.
Where Were the Avengers When Wakanda Mourned T’Challa?
The Avengers as we know them are pretty much gone. Whoever remains is neither welcome within the borders of the African nation nor considered an ally of Wakanda. As was repeatedly proven in the film’s constant battle to preserve itself, the outside world has set its sights on the Vibranium-rich land for its resources and the potential threat that Wakanda would attract by inviting the Avengers to T’Challa’s funeral, not to mention when they are at their most vulnerable, is simply unquantifiable.
Moreover, logistically speaking, among the Avengers, Tony Stark, Black Widow, and Vision — are dead within the mainstream timeline, and there has been no word about Steve Rogers in the MCU since the events of Endgame. The rest of the team — Sam Wilson, Scott Lang, Bruce Banner, Clint Barton, and James Rhodes — were never particularly friends with the monarch of Wakanda.
The Scarlet Witch aka Wanda Maximoff who spent a considerable portion of her time in the company of Shuri during the prelude to Infinity War has removed herself from the face of civilization and she now either remains under the influence of the Darkhold or can be presumed dead. Doctor Strange is out exploring the Multiverse while Peter Parker remains a forgotten hero. And it would be surprising if the Winter Soldier was invited back into the Wakandan borders after his betrayal during the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, especially seeing as how T’Challa helped him regain control of his mind despite the role he and Zemo played in the death of T’Chaka during Civil War.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now playing in theatres.
