Michaela Coel Has Been Cast In “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” And Some Think She Might Replace Letitia Wright

Variety reports that Michaela Coel, the nearly universally beloved creator and star of the series I May Destroy You, has been cast in Wakanda Forever, the sequel to Marvel’s Black Panther. No word on who she will be playing but also who cares? Do you know how hard it is to be nearly universally beloved? In this economy?! In recent memory, only the dearly departed Chadwick Bozeman, T’Challa — the Black Panther himself, has been able to pull that off. Now, according to TMZ, Michaela’s addition to the cast has caused some speculation that she might be replacing formally nearly universally beloved Letitia Wright who played T’Challa’s sister Suri in BP.

According to Variety, Marvel is being very tight-lipped about the details of Wakanda Forever which, according to TMZ, has already started filming in Atlanta. Variety reports:

Michaela Coel has joined the ensemble cast of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the sequel to the hit Marvel film “Black Panther.”

Character details are locked up, per usual. Insiders say Coel has joined director Ryan Coogler at Atlanta’s Pinewood Studios, where production began last month. Marvel Studios declined to comment on the matter.

As you may recall, last December Leticia squandered much of the goodwill she earned playing the smartest scientist in all of the MCU when she shared a bat-shit video from self-proclaimed profit Tomi Arayomi in which he “questions the legitimacy of the COVID-19 vaccination, appears sceptical of climate change, accuses China of spreading COVID-19, and makes transphobic comments.” After sparring a bit on Twitter with folks who thought it wasn’t so cool for the person playing the smartest scientist in all of the MCU to be spreading antiscience religious doctrine, Letitia completely deleted all her social media. While Variety says that Letitia is among the original BP cast members who “will likely reprise their roles,” TMZ is not so sure.

The assumption is that a majority of the cast from Pt. 1 will return — like Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, etc. — but none of them, including Letitia (who had a major role the first time around), are sure things at this point … and in light of this news, it’s giving folks pause for LW’s sake.

Here’s the deal … Letitia is the only member of the OG cast who’s been embroiled in controversy lately — and there’s a ton of circumstantial evidence that seems to point to her having bad blood with Marvel and perhaps Disney at large.

Based on tweets she’s liked in the recent past — before scrubbing all her social media entirely not too long ago — all signs point to her possibly not returning … and that recasting her might be on the horizon, which is why the Michaela addition is fueling theories.

That’s a huge deal, and a potential huge blow (for Letitia) if it turns out Michaela is, in fact, going to play an older version of Shuri (T’Challa’s sister in ‘BP’). The reason … Shuri actually becomes the new Black Panther after T’Challa passes on the torch in the comic book series.

Since Letitia wisely removed herself from the conversation by abstaining from social media entirely, it’s hard to imagine that Disney would give her the same heave-ho they gave Gina Carano (in the immortal words of TMZ, “memba her?”). The only thing we know for sure is that Michaela will not, nor will anybody else, be playing T’Challa. Additional speculation/wish manifestation online is that Michaela might be playing Storm who I guess was T’Challa’s wife at some point? But is also an X-Person? Or maybe someone called Madame Slay? Look, I’ve only seen like every 3rd Marvel movie. All I know is I haven’t as of yet noticed any crossover between the MCU and my only area of expertise, the Fast Family Franchise of Films.

In the comics Madam Slay is connected to not only Kilmonger but to The Mandarin as well.

Madam Slay has the ability to command leopards, as well as using knives which makes her a formidable opponent. pic.twitter.com/zofm5iSjHE

— André is a lil Demi/Gray and 100% awesome. (@Tripping_Crutch) July 22, 2021

Damn! Can I get one of these panels printed on velvet, please? I’d like to hang it over my bed.

Pic: Wenn.com