How can there be a Black Panther film without the Black Panther? Many fans asked this question and speculated how Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler would rewrite the film’s storyline subsequent to the passing of Chadwick Boseman. The actor played the Black Panther in four previous films in Marvel Cinematic Universe, but due to his unfortunate passing in August 2020, the trilogy’s future was left unknown.

“Not going to lie, I wasn’t really sure how this would turn out. After Chadwick Boseman died I didn’t know where the story line would go but I was really happy with it. Especially the end credits,” said senior Kennedy Oti. 

Not all Marvel fans had similar feelings towards the film. “It didn’t really give Black Panther vibes, like most of the movie didn’t even take place in Wakanda,” senior Sara Foster argued. 

The split between Marvel fans and their opinion on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever goes beyond Stafford High. On Rotten Tomatoes the film scored 84% on the tomatometer and a 95% audience score. Though these numbers would presumably show the shared love of the movie, conflicting opinions have been continually posted on various social media platforms. Thousands have taken to social media to voice their opinions of the movie – some ridiculing the attempt to match the beauty of the original and others praising the new storyline.

Many fans appreciated the portrayal of Aztec and Mexican culture in the movie. “ I didn’t really know what I was expecting to see when I went to see it but I really loved how Mexican culture was included and pretty accurately shown,” senior Aileen Contreras said. 

Although viewers are divided in opinions about the trilogy’s storyline, it’s agreed that many watchers enjoyed being able to reminisce Boseman’s impact on the Marvel franchise one final time.