When it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony Stark has a brain that just don’t quit. The billionaire once used his intellect to profit from war, but Stark’s transformation into Iron Man saw him reprioritize his IQ. The MCU has since collected other geniuses like Bruce Banner, but it will soon welcome a prodigy whose smarts level or even outmatch Stark. So, naturally, the Black Panther is pretty proud of his little sister.
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This month, fans got their first look at Black Panther as the standalone film debut its first teaser. The action-packed footage showed characters like T’Challa and Kilmonger going to war in Wakanda, but there was one star who caught everyone’s eye. Shuri made an unexpected appearance as the princess of Wakanda showed up armed in the trailer, and director Ryan Coogler says the girl is not one to be messed with.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Coogler said that Shuri is one of Wakanda’s most innovative minds. Her genius is “on part with Tony Stark,” and Shuri has dedicated much of her life to tinkering around in a lab. Black Panther‘s teaser showed the girl donning some high-tech gauntlets which could put Iron Man’s repulsers to shame, and her expertise with Vibranium is surely unparalleled.
Coogler’s comments about Shuri echo statements which actress Letitia Wright shared about her character earlier this month. In a chat with Interview Magazine, Wright said Shuri is the one who oversees most of Wakanda’s new technology.
“She’s princess of Wakanda, but also she designs all of the new technology there. She has an innovative spirit and an innovative mind, and she wants to take Wakanda to a new place. Also, she has a great fashion sense, better than mine,” Wright explained.
“She’s so vibrant; a beautiful spirit, but also so focused on what she does. And that’s good for other people to see, especially young people to see, because it’s like, “Look, there’s a young black girl who loves technology and she’s from Africa.” It’s something refreshing.”
After the events of Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakanadan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
The film stars Chadwick Boseman (Get on Up), Michael B. Jordan (Creed), Lupita Nyong’o (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Danai Gurira (The Walking Dead), Martin Freeman (Sherlock), Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), with Angela Bassett (American Horror Story), with Forest Whitaker (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), and Andy Serkis (Avengers: Age of Ultron).
Additional cast members include Letitia Wright (Urban Hymn), Winston Duke (Modern Family), Florence Kasumba (Emerald City), Sterling K. Brown (The People v. O.J. Simpson) and John Kani (Coriolanus). Ryan Coogler directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Joe Robert Cole.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is in theaters now. Spider-Man: Homecoming lands on July 7, 2017, followed by Thor: Ragnarok on November 3, 2017. After that Black Panther debuts on February 16, 2018, while Avengers: Infinity War hits theaters on May 4, 2018. Ant-Man and the Wasp is slated for July 6, 2018, followed by Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019.
MORE BLACK PANTHER: How Black Panther Has Super Strength Revealed / First Details On Shuri Revealed / Black Panther Villain Will Have His Signature Weapon / Who Killmonger Is Working With Revealed
