Here’s Why Killmonger Won’t Need To Return To Black Panther 2

Fans were reunited with Black Panther villain Killmonger in Marvel’s What If…? episode 6. In this episode, the audience learned why he won’t be returning

By Mabel Judith Andrady
September 21,2021
Featured Image

Fans were reunited with Black Panther villain Killmonger in Marvel’s What If…? episode 6. In this episode, the audience learned why he won’t be returning in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Now that the Infinity Saga is over, the Marvel Cinematic Universe can move on to Phase 4.

Unlike the previous phases, it includes both TV shows and movies. A new era of MCU content has begun with the release of the animated series ‘What If…?’. Phase 4 began with the release of the series WandaVision. This was followed by The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Loki.

Killmonger in What if…?

Killmonger In What If
Killmonger In What If

What If…? is an animated anthology series. It looks at what could have occurred if several major events in the MCU had been handled differently. What if…? eventually serves as the first glimpse into the multiverse and its various timelines.

A character making a different decision or having things happen differently around them might generate circumstances. Consequently, these scenarios can lead to interesting storylines. To name a few, Peggy Carter becoming Captain Carter, T’Challa becoming Star-Lord, Doctor Strange becoming evil, or the planet being overrun by zombies. What If…? Episode 6 went back to recounting major incidents from the MCU.  These were done through Tony Stark and Killmonger, years before the latter’s arrival in Wakanda.

What If…? examined a future in which Killmonger protected Tony Stark from the Ten Rings in Afghanistan. The event paved the door for a partnership between the two. Stark and Killmonger collaborated on a vibranium drone army. However, Killmonger had other, more sinister intentions to usurp T’Challa as king of Wakanda.

Unfortunately, Killmonger’s come back to the MCU failed to live up to expectations, and while many fans would like to see him return in Black Panther 2, his appearance in What If…? shows that doing so would be a mistake and would really harm the character.

Killmonger’s future in Black Panther 2

Tony Stark killed by Eric Killmonger in What If...?
Tony Stark killed by Eric Killmonger in What If…?

Killmonger first appeared in Black Panther, where it was revealed that he was T’Challa’s cousin. Many people consider Killmonger to be the finest villain in the MCU to date because his goals were crystal obvious, and he was a grounded and sympathetic adversary whose actions had real consequences for the tale of the hero and those around him. With the help of Wakanda’s technology, Killmonger hoped he could take control of the globe and end the tyranny of African descendants.

Even when T’Challa offered to cure Killmonger in Wakanda, Killmonger opted to die with his back to the sun since his father had always told him the sunsets in Wakanda were the most beautiful. T’Challa eventually incorporated some of Killmonger’s suggestions, and at the end of the film, he proclaimed that Wakanda will make its technology available to the rest of the world.

Killmonger underwent a thorough transformation in Black Panther, and his acts had repercussions for the hero after he was vanquished. He was given compelling motivations and explanations for his actions. Additionally, Killmonger’s tale was brilliantly concluded in Black Panther 2, so bringing him back in Black Panther 2 would be a travesty of justice.

Killmonger might return after all

killmonger
Killmonger

Although there are a few possible methods for Killmonger to return to Black Panther 2, they all feel like a squandering of the character’s potential and threaten to undermine what Black Panther accomplished with him. As his tale is complete, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever does not require Killmonger’s presence or return. What If…? proved how underwhelming it may be to have him back.

While Erik might not return, speculations believe that Michael B Jordan is still set to return as the lead. After all, a character in a movie doesn’t have to be living right now to feature in it. Perhaps we’ll see a few flashbacks of Erik’s military service in this film. It’s possible he’ll have interacted with the primary antagonist from Black Panther 2. It’s possible that Killmonger has some connection to the primary villain, perhaps as an old friend or competitor of Erik’s. It doesn’t matter how he “resurrects,” because he’s still dead, but he existed once.