The hype is building for Black Panther, a movie that promises to be the most diverse superhero film to date. In a stunning cast of award-winners and scene-stealers, one name in particular is rising to prominence: Letitia Wright, who will play Black Panther’s sister Shuri. In the comics, she’s a popular character who ultimately became the Black Panther when T’Challa was forced to stand aside. But, as much-loved as she may be, it seems that Shuri is being subtly rewritten for her #MCU debut. Let’s take a look at the role this exciting new character is set to play…
Letitia Wright Reveals The Secrets Of Shuri
In a recent exclusive interview, Letitia Wright gave us just a little insight into the character of Shuri. She told The Interview Magazine:
“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. 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 for 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.”
Created by Reginald Hudlin and John Romita, Jr. back in 2005, Shuri was conceived as a warrior-woman who coveted the mantle of the Black Panther. In fact, she trained for years in order to defeat the previous Black Panther, her uncle S’yan, but was beaten to it by her brother T’Challa. It was only when Shuri was drawn into battle for the first time that T’Challa began to take her combat skills seriously, training Shuri for war. Years later, when T’Challa was left in a coma, she’d take his place for a while as the female Black Panther.
Although T’Challa’s rise to power has been adapted for the MCU, we have no way of knowing how much of Shuri’s character arc will be retained for Black Panther. Whatever the case may be, though, the film’s certainly rewritten Shuri a little; she’s a scientist and a dreamer, an expert in the advanced technology of Wakanda. In fact, Letitia Wright describes her as the one who creates the Black Panther’s unique and distinctive weapons.
An Ominous Detail
Don’t mess with this princess! ‘Black Panther’ [Credit: Marvel Studios]
It’s one thing to create weapons, of course; it’s another to guarantee that they’ll be used responsibly. Andy Serkis is set to reprise his role as Ulysses Klaue, and that dovetails worryingly with those stunning weapons Shuri is seen wielding in the trailer. In the comics, the villainous Klaw gains a vibranium weapon very similar to Shuri’s; it’s grafted on to his arm, in place of a lost hand.
I fear that Black Panther will see Shuri’s weapons used for ill — and the power of vibranium harnessed by the enemies of Wakanda.
What Could The Future Hold For Shuri?
Letitia Wright’s comments are absolutely fascinating, and hint at the character’s future directions — especially given she’s confirmed to appear in Avengers: Infinity War. It seems that she’ll remain an active scientist in the MCU, adding a wonderful element of diversity to the “science bros” of Stark and Banner.
Perhaps the most intriguing question, though, is whether or not Shuri will follow the same path she did in the films. Will we see her join T’Challa’s side as a fellow Black Panther? Will Shuri become one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes herself? She did in the comics, and in fact played a major role in successfully repelling the invasion of Thanos’s Black Order. Only time will tell!
As you can see, the MCU version of Shuri has been subtly altered. But, excitingly, that only sets Letitia Wright up for an even greater role in the future of the MCU. Who knows? She could yet become another Black Panther…
Courtesy of Roberto de la Torre/Valiant Entertainment (Art); Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images (Hudlin)
Hudlin will also co-write the story with ‘Salem’ showrunner Adam Simon.
Independent comic book company Valiant Entertainment is continuing its march toward the big screen, with Heat Vision learning that the adaptation of its Shadowman series has brought on new creative team to redevelop the property.
Adam Simon, showrunner for WGN America’s Salem, will rewrite a screenplay by J. Michael Straczynski based on the supernatural comic book property, sources familiar with the project revealed. Reginald Hudlin, fresh off his directorial return with this October’s Thurgood Marshall thriller Marshall, is attached to direct.
Shadowman is a supernatural concept based around an African-American musician in New Orleans who becomes infected by a spirit that allows him otherworldly abilities. As the latest incarnation of the titular Shadowman, a mystical defender of Earth against demonic invasion, he has to protect against threats from Master Darque and other denizens of the netherworld known as the Deadside.
The character debuted in 1992’s Shadowman No. 1, and currently appears in the company’s current Rapture comic book series, which launched last month.
For the film, Hudlin and Simon will work together on the revised story for the project, while Straczynski remains on board as executive producer. The Sean Daniel Company’s Sean Daniel and Jason Brown will produce with Valiant Entertainment’s Dinesh Shamdasani. As with Valiant’s Archer & Armstrong, the project will be developed in-house before being shopped to studios.
Although this will be Hudlin’s first cinematic superhero project, he has a significant body of work in superhero comics, including a four-year run on Marvel’s Black Panther, and his current work reviving the Milestone franchise for DC Entertainment. He also wrote the comic book adaptation of Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, and co-wrote the follow-up, Django/Zorro, with Matt Wagner.
Shadowman is one of many Valiant properties to be developed for the big screen. Sony has a five-picture deal with the company for its Harbinger and Bloodshot characters, with Archer & Armstrong being developed by Terry Rossio and Zombieland‘s Ruben Fleischer. Quantum & Woody is also under development for television, with Joe and Anthony Russo as executive producers.
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EXCLUSIVE Superstar songwriter Diane Warren is like the Susan Lucci of the Oscars in the Best Song category. She’s had 8 nominations. The last one was in 2016 with Lady Gaga for “Til It Happens to You” from “The Hunting Ground” documentary. She was robbed– I think– in favor of Sam Smith’s James Bond theme song from that year. (Sam who?)
Now Warren has a potential 9th nomination. I hear that Andra Day and Common have just recorded her new song, “Stand Up for Something,” for the movie about the arrest and trial of a wrongly accused black man in 1940 Connecticut. “Marshall” stars Josh Gad and Sterling K. Brown, with Chadwick Boseman as a young Thurgood Marshall and Kate Hudson as his accuser. Reginald Hudlin directed, and Open Road releases the film in October.
On the song, Day — who is hot as a pistol right now– recalls a young Aretha Franklin during the Jerry Wexler days in the 1960s. Common, who received an Oscar for his collaboration with John Legend on “Glory” from the movie “Selma,” gives the song a contemporary feel as well.
The whole production sounds like a monster radio hit. And it’s certainly timely these days as a protest song. I hope Warner Bros. Records gets the single out ahead of the movie.
