Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a gold mine for Black female superheroes, a group with few opportunities to shine in the limelight. Women of color who might rival Black men as superheroes were absent from the fray until the first movie of the franchise released in 2018.

Along with Angela Basset, the film has a stellar cast that includes (a memorial for) Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Riri Williams, and many more. On the other hand, I am perplexed: does Black Panther: Wakanda Forever have anything to do with Sony’s The Woman King?

What Do The Woman King And Black Panther Have In Common?

Ethnic and tribal battles within the same race are daily in these films, even though the Black Panther is based on an imaginary Marvel character. Additionally, the characters’ clothing and haircuts are highly culturally distinct. Since the most fearsome warriors in both films were female, they’ve prompted a flurry of debate and speculation.

There is no connection between the two films since The Woman King was released by Sony Pictures Distribution, while Black Panther was published by Marvel Comics and is based on a fictitious character. Despite this, the two films have a strong link because of the themes of slavery, colonialism, and black liberation they explore.

The Woman King must also be uncovering the history of the Agojie warriors. These characters, like Dora Milaje in Black Panther, are based on real-life warriors. This is so awesome that we do not even know what else is.

Viola Davis In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?

General Okoye is a brutal female General of the Dora Milaje. In the same way that Okoye’s supporters were baffled, they couldn’t figure out who was portraying her either. If Marvel indeed opted to recruit Viola Davis, who is well-known for her previous performances and has already proven herself as a renowned performer, it wouldn’t be strange.

However, Danai Gurira has been mistaken for Viola Davis by her fans. Of even more amusement is that Danai Gurira has been confused for Viola Davis by the official stock picture agencies at the Governor’s Ball of the Academy.

What!? 😟@DanaiGurira was mistaken for @ViolaDavis by several stock photo agencies at The Academy's #GovernorsBall https://t.co/vacQRRH709 pic.twitter.com/ypubR3YThe

— Shadow and Act (@shadowandact) November 19, 2018

The physical similarities between these two performers are undeniable. Even better, they’re both well-regarded in the film business. Danai Jekesai Gurira is most recognized for her roles as Michonne in the horror series The Walking Dead and as Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films as both an actress and a superhero.

Viola Davis in The Woman King

So it’s no wonder that Viola Davis has appeared in several highly praised films and television shows. Gina Prince-Bythewood is directing the upcoming American historical epic film, which will star Viola Davis as General Nanisca.

According to IMDb, true events occurred in The Kingdom of Dahomey, Africa’s most powerful empire, during the 18th and 19th centuries which will be shown in the film. Furthermore, an all-female military unit is reported to have existed in the kingdom until 1904.

It’s believed to have been in West Africa, in the modern-day country of Benin. Western observers and historians gave them the appellation Dahomey Amazons because of their resemblance to the legendary Amazons of ancient Anatolia and the Black Sea.

Other Black Female Actors Making Their Mark

Both movies have an excellent casting list of actors of the African ethnicity. To iterate on this further Marvel fans will see Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel and Angela Bassett as their female leads in Black Panther 2.

Meanwhile, Sony fans will see Lashana Lynch, Viola Davis, Sheila Atim, Jayme Lawson. Thuso Mbedu, Adrienne Warren, Shaina West, Masali Baduza, Makgotso M, and many more.

While some actresses like Shania West and the two movies in itself not being directly related, both have compelling reasons not to miss them. Black Panther’s female action heroes blend their battle sequences with embodying these vast inner themes due to the extension of what a woman’s position in cinema looks like.

In addition to illustrating the changing views on women’s roles in action films, giving prominent parts to women of color, particularly Black women, in these films says volumes about how women are treated on both sets. There’s no shortage of compelling reasons to watch Black Panther or The Woman King; including prominent female action performers is only one of them.