Wakanda Forever Continues Setup For MCU Phase 7 & Beyond

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s post-credits scene continued Marvel’s setup for the MCU’s future after the Multiverse Saga. Marvel has provided outlines for its next two phases, but nothing specific has been announced for Phase 7 as of yet. However, what’s on the slate for the next few years – and what’s missing – shed light on what might be coming in Phase 7 and beyond.

Over the next three years, the Multiverse Saga will be bringing a number of fan favorites to the MCU. Blade, the Fantastic Four, Deadpool, Wonder Man, and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine are all part of Marvel’s plans. However, there are quite a few major Marvel Comics characters whose MCU debuts remain under wraps. So far, there’s no word on when the X-Men, the Young Avengers, and the Silver Surfer will be showing up. With all three possibly being omitted from the Multiverse Saga, it’s possible that they’ll be among the characters with movies and shows in the pipeline for Phase 7.

Prince T’Challa Can Become MCU Phase 7’s Black Panther

The introduction of the Young Avengers, or perhaps teenage superheroes acting as individual superheroes, looks to be one of Marvel’s long-terms goals. Marvel’s decision to use Scarlet Witch and Vision’s children, Cassie Lang, Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye, and Kamala Khan’s Marvel all support the idea that the studio wants a younger generation of superheroes on hand for the future. Some, like Ms. Marvel and Kate Bishop, are available now, while others may not be relevant for years to come. One such example is Black Panther 2’s Toussaint a.k.a. Prince T’Challa II. As the son of the Chadwick Boseman’s character, Toussaint is a prime candidate for Phase 7’s Black Panther.

Granted, the MCU currently has a Black Panther, but it’s hard to say how long Shuri will keep the mantle. If and when the character steps away from the Black Panther role in the MCU, Marvel will already have someone who can take her place thanks to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s post-credits scene. If Marvel makes a Young Avengers movie or decides to give him a solo project, Toussaint can be reintroduced as a teenager after the Multiverse Saga ends.

Why The MCU’s Hero Child Introductions Are So Different

How Marvel teases its younger superheroes differs a great deal from how it typically sets up a new character. In the cases of heroes like Hercules and Starfox, Marvel has brought them in full-costume, allowing them to set huge expectations for their futures. But with Touissant and Cassie, Marvel is much more subtle, as they were introduced as children who simply have the potential to become superheroes at some point down the road. Similar to how Marvel is slowly turning Cassie Lang into an MCU superhero, these aren’t characters Marvel needs right away. It can set them up in a given movie, and then bring them back as adults or teenagers when their parents or predecessors have retired.