Black Panther's Lupita Nyong'o Would Love To Explore Nakia's Origin Story
Warning: This article contains spoilers for "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."
Wakanda without T'Challa (the late Chadwick Boseman) is an unfortunate reality the kingdom must face in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." The sequel to 2018's "Black Panther" follows Shuri (Letitia Wright), Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) as they struggle with the sudden loss of T'Challa. Boseman, who brought T'Challa to the big screen in "Captain America: Winter Soldier" and "Black Panther," passed away in August 2020 following a battle with colon cancer (via The New York Times). While the film pays tribute to Boseman and his legacy, it is also an origin story for Shuri, T'Challa's sister who has a knack for all things science. As Shuri grieves T'Challa, and later Queen Ramonda, she decides that it is time for her to become the next Black Panther. Toward the movie's end, Shuri is seen putting on the iconic helmet and leading Wakanda into battle against Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and the Atlanteans. The film also showcases the origin story of Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), an MIT student who becomes Ironheart.
As the MCU grows both of these characters, Nyong'o thinks it may be time audiences learn more about the character she holds so dear.
Nyong'o already has ideas for Nakia's story
Lupita Nyong'o told Reel Rejects in a November 6 interview that she would love to see Nakia's origin story, and she already has a few ideas about what she wants to explore with the character. "I guess I'd be curious to know how she shows up for herself, and I would also like to delve into these interests," she said. "We see that she is very much involved in the world and stuff like that. I would love to see where that comes from..."
In "Black Panther," Nakia is introduced while working an undercover mission. "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" finds Nakia teaching in Haiti as Shuri wonders why she did not return home for T'Challa's funeral. Nyong'o points out that one of the things she loves about her character is her heart. "Nakia is the person you call in your time of need. She seems to be that person," she said. That makes it all the stranger that Nakia was not present for T'Challa's funeral services. Her absence is explained in the mid-credits scene when she introduces Shuri to her nephew, adding that T'Challa did not want Nakia or their son to attend funeral services in Wakanda.
So, will we ever get to see more of Nakia's story? Fans can only hope.