It's been an exiting time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Last week brought the debut of Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, which has shattered box office records and is a near universal critical darling. The blockbuster further fleshed out Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa, after his triumphant debut in Captain America: Civil War. Coogler also assembled a fantastic cast to fill out the world of Wakanda, with the clear fan favorite appearing to be T'Challa's sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright. The teenage tech genius was equal parts delightful and determined, but how will she interact with characters like Tony Stark and Bruce Banner when she shows up in Avengers: Infinity War? Wright seems to think that Shuri would hold her own, saying:
I think she'll be OK. I think she would humble herself to learn from them, and challenge them as well with new designs and new ideas from Wakanda. And she's willing to learn from the West because her brother is so open now. I think she's embracing that as well. She would hold her own.
While a bit younger than fellow tech genius Tony Stark, Shuri certainly seems to have the technological prowess an ingenuity to go toe to toe with Robert Downey Jr.'s signature character. Who knows, she might even be able to teach him a thing or two.
Letitia Wright's comments to the LA Times is sure to excite hardcore MCU fans who are eager to see the various worlds collide in Avengers: Infinity War. It's unclear how each of the shared universe's characters will function within the greater story, but the trailer showed an epic battle in Wakanda. This will likely be the opportunity for Shuri to share the screen with members of The Avengers, including Black Widow, Captain America, and Bucky. But she'll also be working in the outreach center established by T'Challa in Black Panther's final moments, so perhaps she'll interact with some characters within the US.
Shuri's debut in Black Panther is already beloved, and the character has the potential to become extremely important in the overall shared universe. With Robert Downy Jr.'s contract up after Avengers 4, it's unclear if Tony Stark will remain within the MCU. If RDJ walks, then there will need to be a new tech provider for The Avengers. Shuri seems like the perfect candidate, as she outfitted the entire country of Wakanda with fantastic Vibranium tech.
To take things further, Shuri could even be a candidate to take on the mantle of Iron Man. The comics recently introduced a female Iron Man, so the MCU may follow suit. We'll just have to wait and see how it all pants out as Phase Three of the shared universe comes a close.
Black Panther is in theaters now, and Letitia Wright will reprise her role in Avengers: Infinity War on March 4th, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
