Dominique Thorne Says "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Lets Audiences "[Get] to Know" Ironheart

Coel is the latest star to join the stacked cast. Details about her character have yet to be revealed, but according to Variety, the I May Destroy You actor recently joined director Ryan Coogler at Atlanta's Pinewood Studios, where production kicked off in June.

Oscar winner Nyong'o is slated to reprise her role as Nakia, the Wakandan spy who shares a romantic connection with T'Challa. Her Marvel role isn't Nyong'o's only major franchise: she also plays Maz Kanata (via voice acting and motion capture) in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and related media.

Gurira will bring her portrayal of Okoye, head of the Dora Milaje, back to the big screen in the Black Panther sequel. She also happens to be a true multi-hyphenate: in addition to acting in major roles like Okoye and The Walking Dead's Michonne, she's a Tony-nominated playwright for her play Eclipsed.

Oscar and Emmy nominee Bassett will return as Ramonda, the queen mother of Wakanda and mom to T'Challa and Shuri. She's spent the past few years mostly on the small screen, appearing in several seasons of American Horror Story and, most recently, starring in 9-1-1, which she also produces.

Duke is set to reprise his role as M'Baku, the ruthless but honourable leader of the Jabari tribe in Wakanda. He also appeared in the 2019 horror film Us and, most recently, the Netflix thriller Spenser Confidential.

CIA agent Ross, played by Freeman, is one of Wakanda's reliable allies from outside their borders. Freeman, of course, has a lengthy resume that includes blockbuster titles like Sherlock and The Hobbit; most recently, he's been focussed on Breeders, a comedy series which he created, stars in, and executive produces.

Huerta is the only new cast member whose presence has been confirmed by a major media outlet (although Marvel itself has not commented on the rumours). In 2020, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Huerta would be playing the movie's villain, although the identity of that character is still unknown. Huerta has a thriving career in Spanish-language media; to English-speaking audiences, he's best known for playing infamous drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero on Netflix's Narcos: Mexico.

Marvel's Kevin Feige announced that Thorne would be joining "Wakanda Forever" during an August 2021 interview with Comicbook.com. "We're shooting 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' right now, and the character of Riri Williams, you will meet in 'Black Panther 2' first," he said. "She started shooting, I think, this week before her 'Ironheart' series."

Thorne's Riri Williams is an MIT student who creates a suit that rivals Iron Man's. She'll star in her own vehicle, "Ironheart," in 2023, but first she will make an appearance in "Wakanda Forever" — and the new trailer showcases her putting together her suit, taking flight, and plunging into battle, showing she'll have much more than a cameo in the film.

In an Oct. 3 feature, Thorne told Entertainment Weekly that she loves the character's individuality. "She's definitely not the typical or traditional superhero," she said. "She's very much Riri Williams, the 19-year-old student first, and then there's this whole Ironheart business that she has to figure out."

Kasumba will return as Ayo, second in command of the Dora Milaje. While the specifics of her role in the new movie haven't yet been confirmed, she does appear in a single frame of the teaser. Recently, Kasumba appeared in "The Lion King" and "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier."