Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is already showcasing a stellar cast, but it appears that Marvel is still working to fill in more roles for the sequel.
The tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman meant that Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler needed to take a step back and reassess the narrative of the sequel without T'Challa. This unfortunate development effectively led to numerous changes behind the scenes, but franchise mainstays like Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, and Winston Duke are all confirmed to return.
Plot details are still shrouded in secrecy, but many believe that a pivotal plot point will revolve around the Black Panther's legacy and Wakanda's continued efforts to be open to the rest of the world. It was also rumored that Namor would be part of the story, with Tenoch Huerta set to play the Atlantean warrior.
Production on Wakanda Forever was reported to be halted due to Wright's on-set injury, with the expectation that it will resume in early 2022. Despite the delay, it seems that an interesting casting tidbit has made its way online.
What If Actress Joins Wakanda Forever
As first reported by Cosmic Circus, Atlanta Filming revealed new set photos from the set of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, unveiling a fresh face that will likely join the upcoming MCU sequel.
The photos showed that Lake Bell has seemingly joined the cast of Wakanda Forever, but details about her role are still unknown:
Cosmic Circus did some digging and found out that Bell is following the official Black Panther account on Instagram.
Bell voiced the animated version of Natasha Romanoff in Marvel Studios' What If...? and Vanessa Fisk in Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. The actress also plays Poison Ivy in HBO Max's Harley Quinn series.
Aside from her impressive voice work, Bell is also known for her roles in several Hollywood films like What Happened in Vegas and It's Complicated.
Lake Bell's Live Action MCU Debut
Lake Bell's role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is still being kept under wraps, but many already see her involvement in the sequel as a win due to her immense acting talent.
Based on the set photos, it appears that Bell's role is a heavily guarded secret, especially considering that her costume is being hidden.
It's possible that the veteran actress could be playing an Atlantean warrior linked to Namor or one of the inhabitants of the hidden continent. Given Bell's impressive resume in voice acting, there's a chance that the actress could be lending her voice to an Atlantean being underneath the depths of Atlantis.
On the flip side, Bell could end up portraying somebody like a high-ranking official from the United Nations that has ties to Wakanda. If this is the case, then she could have scenes with Martin Freeman's Agent Everett Ross somewhere in the movie.
Aside from her on-screen work, Bell also has experience behind the camera, serving as a writer and director for several films. Bell's past experiences could hint that she may have a behind-the-scenes role in Wakanda Forever.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to premiere in theaters on November 11, 2022.
