Black Pantherwas praised a lot for its production values. Everyone loved the visuals, the music, and the production design. But, Ruth E. Carter’s work on the costumes took precedence as it highlighted cultural references and beliefs of African people. For her work on the film, Carter won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. And now she is back, intending to leave a similar impact with the sequel,Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
While speaking toVariety,Ruth E. Cartershared her experience working onWakanda Forever. For her, the sequel was not just about upgrading the concept of ‘Afrofuturism’ but also honoring the legacy of King T’Challa andChadwick Boseman. Carter explains how the color ‘White’ was meaningful to achieve that purpose. She says,
[White] was very specific and meaningful” for the costume design. White not only connects “us to tradition in Africa.
Speaking about how White honors Chadwick, Carter added,
In the Ancestral Plane, when T’Challa wakes up and sees his father, he’s wearing white. White is a color that’s worn in a lot of funerals in Africa — it’s either bright red or it’s white — and we chose white because it connects us to Chadwick, to T’Challa.
In thetrailer ofBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, we see Shuri and other Wakandans wearing white as Shuri carries T’Challa’s mask. It is probably the funeral for T’Challa, who has passed, leaving Wakanda without a protector.
Chadwick Boseman passed away in 2020 after years of battle with cancer, a condition he had hidden from Marvel Studios execs and his fellow cast members. Marvel Studios later decided not to recast T’Challa; hence, his character will also pass inWakanda Forever. From the trailer, it’s pretty visible that every shred of it is about honoring Chadwick’s legacy and the impact his portrayal of Black Panther had on cinema and film lovers.
Read More:Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Who Is the New Black Panther?
Ruth E. Carter Discuss the New Black Panther Costume
Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverwill feature a new Black Pantherfor Wakanda. The trailer revealed the first look of the new Black Panther costume, worn by a female character. Everyone guessed that Shuriwould take on the mantle, but Marvel Studioshas kept quiet.
The featured costume is a combination of silver and gold with visible futurism elements visible on the mask. Speaking of the new design, Carter said,
There was a very careful study of how do we make this person a superhero without changing them so much — that it’s not believable as them, avoiding any reference to who is donning the costume. This one has silver and gold elements [while] our beloved Chadwick Boseman’s suit was all silver, so that already made it a lot more glamorous for the wearer.
Black Panther: Wakanda Foreverwill feature a story focusing on the country’s new volatile status after the death of its king. Wakanda willcome into the battle with Talocan, ruled by Namor, thus bringing forth a massive conflict of science and magic. However, the film may hidea secret antagonistamidst all the chaos.
Black Panther: Wakanda Foreveris slated to release on August 04, 2025, and will be the last feature film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase Four.
