,

Here Are the Most Interesting Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Fan Theories. Which Ones Actually Happened? [UPDATED]

Now that the biggest movie of the year is finally out, we check back in to see which fan theories the internet got right.

Photo: Marvel Studios

Spoiler Alert!

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

If you have not watched Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, stop reading! Seriously, there are a lot of spoilers ahead!

Fine, you’ve been warned!

Fan theories are the glue that makes the comic book world go around. We read the stories and watch the movies, confident in the knowledge that we absolutely know where it’s all going. However, Marvel Studios has consistently thrown a monkey wrench into those ideas with its clever bending of well-known stories and characters. Now that we’ve finally seen Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it’s time to check back in and see how those crazy fan theories held up.

There Are Multiple Black Panthers - Miss

Photo: Marvel Studios

With trailers and merch hinting heavily at Shuri taking on the Black Panther mantle, it seems a little too obvious for the Wakandan princess to be the new version of the hero. This has led some of us to guess that there are actually multiple Black Panthers. If Nakia, Shuri, M’Baku and Okoye are sharing the mantle, then the rest of the world wouldn’t be able to guess the hero’s real identity. This directly leads to the next theory that Wakanda may get more secretive again.

Truth: As expected, Shuri takes on the Black Panther mantle.

Ramonda Closes Wakanda’s Borders - Miss

Photo: Marvel Studios

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier explained how untenable the world’s refugee situation became in the wake of the Blip. This, coupled with T’Challa’s death, could potentially lead Queen Ramonda to once again close her country off from the rest of the world. In her grief, she could feel that Wakanda is too exposed and must isolate itself to recover from recent events.

Truth: While Ramonda is a fierce, badass queen who lets the world know Wakanda stills holds all the power, she does not close the country’s borders.

Killmonger Returns - Hit

Photo: Getty Images Jesse Grant

If you watched What If…? Season 1, then you know Killmonger has issues no matter what universe he’s in. Fans loved Michael B. Jordan’s portrayal of the villain so much that they’ve been plotting ways for him to come back since the moment he died. Much like Loki, he’s one of those bad guys we want to know more about. Surely there’s at least one timeline out there where little Erik’s life worked out OK and he was raised to be a hero. Wouldn’t you love to see Michael B. in full hero mode?

Truth: Turns out the ancestral plane has not dulled Killmonger’s vengeful nature.

The Midnight Angels - Hit, Sort of

Photo: Marvel Studios

With Michaela Coel playing Aneka, fans have been going crazy over the idea that we might get a live-action version of The Midnight Angels. For the unfamiliar, Aneka was a rebellious member of the Dora Milaje who escaped execution, and alongside her lover, Ayo, formed the Midnight Angels. Yes, to all of this! Yes to an Aneka and Ayo romance! And yes to a rogue, more aggressive team of Doras.

Truth: Yes, Okoye and Aneka become Midnight Angels, but the story takes a drastic turn from its comic book origin.

Robert Downey Jr. Returns to Voice Ironheart’s A.I. - Miss, But...

Photo: Getty Images Rodin Eckenroth

In the comics, when Riri becomes Ironheart, she works alongside an A.I with Tony Stark’s consciousness transferred into it. Since we saw Tony leave Peter Parker access to a super advanced A.I. in Spider-Man: Far From Home, there’s no doubt that at some point he secretly put his own mind into an A.I. program. There have also been persistent rumors that Robert Downey Jr. wants to return to the MCU. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Armor Wars is set to make his Iron Man suits the center of attention.

Truth: While Riri uses Griot, the same Trevor Noah voiced A.I. as everyone in Wakanda, there’s still a chance RDJ could pop up in the Disney+ series Ironheart.

MCU Cameos - Hit

Photo: Getty Images Jon Kopaloff

Since Avengers: Endgame wrapped up the Infinity Saga, we’ve been introduced to a lot of cool, new heroes, while some old favorites have also returned. Since the MCU is so good at connecting its universe, I’m really hoping we’ll get a surprise appearance from an unexpected character like Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, Monica Rambeau or Wong. Perhaps something happens that could lead to Luke Cage’s entrance back into the MCU? Look, just let me have my wishful dreams, OK.

Truth: I’m calling this one a hit, because Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns to stir the pot as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.

A Black Panther Variant From the Multiverse Appears - Miss

Screenshot: Marvel Studios

With Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness opening up the possibilities for alternate versions of fan-favorite characters, there’s a very real world where we could see an unexpected variant of Black Panther. Whether it’s someone we know taking on the mantle or a completely new character, it’s something Marvel Studios could use to move the overall arc of the Multiverse Saga forward.

Truth: I couldn’t have been more wrong, as there was absolutely no mention of the multiverse.

Doctor Doom Is the Real Villain - Miss

Screenshot: Marvel

This is the most popular fan theory floating around and it’s also the least likely to happen. Though trailers and TV ads are trying to sell us on Namor as the villain, it seems highly unlikely that this is actually the case. This feels like a story where someone is pulling the strings to get these two countries to fight, so they can pick up the pieces after a massive war. This is definitely something Doctor Doom would do. However, I just don’t think Kevin Feige would introduce Doom as a surprise villain without any fanfare or casting announcements.

Truth: As expected, there was no Victor Von Doom.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Steve Harvey's Gorgeous $15 Million Once Owned by Tyler Perry

Steve Harvey’s Gorgeous $15 Million Once Owned by Tyler Perry

With a 70,000 gallon infinity pool to a home theater and wine cellar, Steve Harvey's mansion is one of the most expensive properties in Atlanta, Ga ...
The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

The Best, Black TV Shows, Movies to Stream on AppleTV+

From Brian Tyree Henry getting down and dirty to David Oyelowo searching for a fresh start: we've got what you need to watch! ...

How Tina Knowles Schooled Folks Hating on Beyoncé For Singing the National Anthem on Tour

How Tina Knowles Schooled Folks Hating on Beyoncé For Singing the National Anthem on Tour

Clips of Beyonce performing the song has gone viral, prompting folks to question why she'd choose to sing it in the first place. But Miss Tina has had enough! ...
What's Happening to Diddy's Fortune? Here's What We Know

What’s Happening to Diddy’s Fortune? Here’s What We Know

He was once on the way to billionaire status. Now, Diddy's net worth and his reputation has taken a drop ...
Gary Coleman's Ex-Wife Finally Takes Lie Detector Test About His Death, and the Results Are Spooky

Gary Coleman’s Ex-Wife Finally Takes Lie Detector Test About His Death, and the Results Are Spooky

Coleman married Shannon Price in 2007 and divorced one year later. Two years after that, he suffered a fatal fall and Price was the only witness ...
How Tyler Perry's Name Was Dropped in Yet Another Sexual Misconduct Claim By One of His Actors

How Tyler Perry’s Name Was Dropped in Yet Another Sexual Misconduct Claim By One of His Actors

Braxton Wells accused the studios' senior vice president of scripted programming of grooming and rape...but that's not all ...
Here's Why Y'all Need to Stop Calling Beyoncé 'Old'

Here’s Why Y’all Need to Stop Calling Beyoncé ‘Old’

Beyoncé is many things. But too old to perform is not one of them....especially in a musical market with many aging men ...
Is NeNe Leakes Plotting the Ultimate 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Comeback? Here's the Pipin' Hot Tea...

Is NeNe Leakes Plotting the Ultimate ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Comeback? Here’s the Pipin’ Hot Tea…

The veteran peach-holder spoke about returning to the Atlanta reality show after leaving in 2020 ...
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Went Up Against 90 Homeland Security Soldiers, Here's What Happened Next

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Went Up Against 90 Homeland Security Soldiers, Here’s What Happened Next

As soon as footage of National Guard troops got back to Mayor Bass, she went down there to personally handle the situation ...
DeMarco Morgan Is Leaving 'GMA3,' and Here's Why We Should've Seen it Coming

DeMarco Morgan Is Leaving ‘GMA3,’ and Here’s Why We Should’ve Seen it Coming

While his departure may be upsetting to some fans, there may have been hints that his time on the show was winding down ...
Confederate Group Takes This Drastic Action to Shut Down a Georgia Park's Planned Slavery Exhibit

Confederate Group Takes This Drastic Action to Shut Down a Georgia Park’s Planned Slavery Exhibit

Stone Mountain Park is home of the biggest Confederate monument in America, and one group wants to keep it that way forever ...
Kidnapper Grabs Young Black Boy Before This Brazen Act of Courage Happened— And it Was All Caught on Video

Kidnapper Grabs Young Black Boy Before This Brazen Act of Courage Happened— And it Was All Caught on Video

Rah'Shem Gantt was enjoying a Coney Island outing with his family until things took a frightening turn ...
The Late Ananda Lewis' Son's Father, Who Shares a Special Connection to Will Smith, Just Shared a Touching Tribute

The Late Ananda Lewis’ Son’s Father, Who Shares a Special Connection to Will Smith, Just Shared a Touching Tribute

Harry Lewis, the father of Ananda Lewis' 14-year-old son Langston, called Lewis "the most attentive and loving mother" on Instagram ...
Tina Knowles Gives Halle Bailey Relationship Advice With Just This One Word

Tina Knowles Gives Halle Bailey Relationship Advice With Just This One Word

It's been said that the best way to get over someone is with someone else. And in case you haven't been paying attention, it looks like Halle Bailey is doing just that. Last week, we told you that photographers caught the singer-actress getting up close and personal with producer Scott ...
Hakeem Jeffries Goes Viral For Allegedly Photoshopping This Instagram Photo, But Did He Really...?

Hakeem Jeffries Goes Viral For Allegedly Photoshopping This Instagram Photo, But Did He Really…?

The House Minority Leader made headlines again following an epic speech against Trump's Big Beautiful Bill ...
OutKast's Big Boi Mourns The Death of His Uncle "Moonie" In Tragic Shooting

OutKast’s Big Boi Mourns The Death of His Uncle “Moonie” In Tragic Shooting

In a statement with WSB-TV, Big Boi shared how the death has affected his family: ...
All About Mel B's Stunning Lookalike Little Sister

All About Mel B’s Stunning Lookalike Little Sister

While there were a handful of famous faces in attendance, the main face that's slowly becoming the talk of the town is Mel B's little sister, Danielle Brown. And you've got to see why! ...
Tupac Associate Young Noble's Death Illuminates Alarming Fact About Suicide Rates Among Black Men

Tupac Associate Young Noble’s Death Illuminates Alarming Fact About Suicide Rates Among Black Men

On July 4, 2025, emcee Young Noble-- member of Outlawz and Tupac affiliate-- died of an apparent suicide ...
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Recent Dissent Proves She's Unafraid to Challenge Her Colleagues—Unlike Clarence Thomas

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Recent Dissent Proves She’s Unafraid to Challenge Her Colleagues—Unlike Clarence Thomas

Compared to Thomas, Jackson is a breath of fresh air. As one of the youngest members on the court, she often uses her platform to connect with all Americans ...
After Three Open-Heart Surgeries, This Black Father Discovered an Unusual Cure

After Three Open-Heart Surgeries, This Black Father Discovered an Unusual Cure

Donnie Seals, Sr. and his son, Eric share a transformational trip in a PBS documentary they hope will help other Black people ...