Naturally the majority of T’Challa’s allies in Black Panther came from his home nation of Wakanda, but there was one outsider who lent some assistance in the conflicts against both Ulysses Klaue and Erik “Killmonger” Stevens: Everett Ross, who met T’Challa during the events of Captain America: Civil War. While we’re a long way off from getting to see Black Panther 2, Martin Freeman expects he’ll be reprising Ross during the sequel, saying:
As far as I know, I will be [returning]. As far as I know, I will be in another Black Panther. That’s my understanding. As to when that will happen, I don’t know.
While plugging his newest movie, Ode to Joy (which also stars Gotham’s Morena Baccarin), Martin Freeman was asked by Collider if there are any plans for him to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it doesn’t sound like any papers have been signed just yet, the Sherlock star is confident he’ll be participating in Black Panther 2, so it’s only a matter of time before everyone is officially put in order.
When exactly Everett Ross and the rest of the Black Panther gang will return is hard to say. Although it was officially confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con that Black Panther 2 is in development, Phase 4 is already filled from 2020 to 2021 with both movies and Disney+ shows. So the earliest we could see the sequel is sometime in 2022, but there’s also the chance it could be saved for the following year.
Everett Ross has been a supporting character in the Black Panther corner of the Marvel mythology since 1998 (he was created by Christopher Priest and Kenny Martinez). In the Marvel Comics universe, he was a U.S. State Department employee who escorted foreign diplomats while they were in America, which is hold he met T’Challa. Eventually Everett became an expert in Wakandan culture and a trusted ally to T’Challa and the rest of the monarch’s family.
Within the MCU, Martin Freeman’s Everett Ross first served as the Deputy Task Force Commander of the Joint Counterterrorism Center in Captain America: Civil War, reporting directly to U.S. Secretary of State Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. Everett worked alongside Tony Stark to apprehend Bucky Barnes after he was framed for the United Nations bombing, and when Helmut Zemo, the true perpetrator, was later captured, Everett oversaw his incarceration.
By the time Black Panther rolled around, Everett Ross was working in the field and ordered by the CIA to buy a vibranium sample from arms dealer Ulysses Klaue. That led him to crossing paths with T’Challa again, and while the two of them were initially at odds, Everett would help the Wakandan hero and his allies when they attempted to overthrow Killmonger from the throne by remotely piloting a Wakandan jet and destroying the advanced weaponry that was intended to be sent out of the country.
Everett Ross was last seen in the Black Panther mid-credits scene, where T’Challa announced Wakanda’s true nature to the world. Since many years passed between the events of Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame, not to mention that it’s unclear how long after Endgame Black Panther 2 will take place, it’s entirely possible that by that point, Everett has developed a much closer relationship with Wakanda and its ruling family.
Along with Martin Freeman believing he’ll play Everett Ross again and Chadwick Boseman obviously reprising T’Challa, it’s also been confirmed that Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright will be back for Black Panther 2 as Shuri and Okoye, respectively. Behind the scenes, Ryan Coogler is back to direct the sequel and is currently writing the script.
Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on Black Panther 2 as they come in, but for now, browse through our Marvel movies guide to learn what else is hitting the big screen during Phase 4 and beyond.
