Disney and Marvel are currently in the last stages of preparation for the final movie in Phase 4, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. And with the movie's first trailer having premiered during Marvel Studios' panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, fans look forward to seeing how Wakanda and its surroundings have expanded for the sequel.
With Marvel still recovering from leading actor Chadwick Boseman's untimely passing in 2020, Black Panther 2 is sure to be one of the most emotional movies in the MCU's long history. Combine that with some epic action featuring Tenoch Huerta's Namor the Sub-Mariner, and fans are in for an absolutely wild ride from start to finish.
All of these story beats have many wondering how Marvel and Disney will classify this movie, although most of the past MCU outings have fallen under the "action-adventure" umbrella. Now, it appears that Black Panther 2 will continue that trend as Marvel moves towards its 30th big-screen adventure since 2008.
Black Panther 2's Genre Set in Stone
An official production release from Disney has listed Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as "action-adventure" for its genre listing ahead of its November 11 release.
Disney kicked off 2022 by marking Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a "supernatural action-adventure," adding some specificity to that genre identifier while keeping it in line with the rest of the MCU's movies. This summer's Thor: Love and Thunder was officially labeled an "action adventure" just like Wakanda Forever.
Disney+ gives more variety to its genre designations for MCU shows, typically giving at least three categories to each:
- She-Hulk: Science Fiction, Comedy, Super Hero, Action-Adventure.
- Ms. Marvel: Coming of Age, Comedy, Super Hero, Action-Adventure
- Moon Knight: Fantasy, Super Hero, Action-Adventure
- Hawkeye: Super Hero, Action-Adventure, Buddy
- What If…?: Science Fiction, Anthology, Animation, Super Hero, Action-Adventure
- Loki: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Super Hero, Action-Adventure
- The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Science Fiction, Super Hero, Action-Adventure, Buddy
- WandaVision: Romance, Drama, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Super Hero"
The same Wakanda Forever release also included the official synopsis for the sequel, teasing how the death of King T'Challa will drive the plot forward:
"In Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba), fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta as Namor, king of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livanalli. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, opens in U.S. theaters Nov. 11, 2022."
Another Action-Adventure for Marvel Studios
While MCU movies have varied slightly over the years with regard to their genre, seeing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever classified as an "action-adventure" is no surprise.
Its synopsis also indicates just how many key players will drive the movie's story forward with Wakanda on the brink of war with Namor's underwater nation after T'Challa's untimely passing. Behind Queen Ramonda, Shuri, and Okoye's leadership, the African nation will have to stand tall as it faces its toughest battles to date.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will begin playing in theaters on November 11.
