With Spider-Man: No Way Home closing out the year, fans are already looking forward to next year. While Spidey's adventure may have been the most anticipated MCU outing this year, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arguably takes the crown in 2022. The film is set to bring back most of the cast from the first movie, alongside some new faces—including some rumored big-time Atlanteans.
The plot for the project isn't known, but with whispers that Namor and Namora will be showing up, it’s safe to say Wakanda may come into conflict with Atlantis. The two nations have a long rivalry in the comics, so it was only a matter of time before it made its way onto the big screen.
On top of that, the project will undoubtedly focus on who may take on the mantle of Black Panther after Chadwick Boseman’s death.
Now, thanks to a reliable source, some new information about one of the film's central characters may have been uncovered.
Okoye's Relationship Status in the MCU
Reliable scooper and source Daniel Richtman posted on his Patreon some interesting new information about Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
According to the rumor, Danai Gurira’s Okoye “will have a same-sex relationship with another Dora Milaje in the film.”
Richtman did not provide any further information about who that someone might be.
MCU Continues to Push for Representation
At one point and time, Marvel Studios was criticized fairly often for its lack of representation, something the early comic books they were adapting from also suffered. Thankfully, that has been changing for the better on that front.
Marvel’s last film, Eternals, boasted the most diverse cast yet. This included Brian Tyree Henry’s Phastos, who became the first openly gay super-powered hero in the MCU.
It's great to see the studio continue that trend with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. But who is this mysterious figure?
The first guess is Ayo, who was last seen in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Both Okoye and her were rumored to have shared a deleted flirtatious moment in Black Panther; so could director Ryan Coogler be going back to that relationship?
Then there’s Nakia, but it's hard to see Marvel Studios choose her, given not only the aforementioned scene but also her closeness with T’Challa.
It could also be newcomer Michaela Coel, who has been rumored to be portraying Aneka; in the comics, Aneka is in a relationship with Ayo. Perhaps maybe instead of those two, Okoye may be tagged into one of the spots.
Fans will have to wait until Black Panther: Wakanda Forever releases on November 11, 2022 to see how it all pans out.
