Avengers 4: Black Panther Shuri Could Be Key To HOW The Dead Heroes Return

Shuri with Star-Lord and Okoye in Avengers Infinity War

Shuri becoming the new Black Panther could hold the key to Avengers 4 bringing its dead heroes back. There's been no shortage of theories in the months since Avengers: Infinity War's release that have attempted to crack the code to the film's ending. But, the latest one makes Letitia Wright's Shuri the most important part.

Wright debuted as Shuri in Black Panther earlier this year and quickly followed her breakout performance up with a small role in Infinity War. She was tasked with trying to separate the Mind Stone and Vision, so they could destroy the last Infinity Stone without killing the powerful Avenger. Corvus Glaive's surprise attach stopped her from completing her goal, and that proved to be devastating. Once Thanos ripped the stone out of Vision's head, he snapped his fingers and half of the universe's population was wiped away.

Related: Everything In The MCU Set AFTER Thanos' Snap

This has led to an incredible amount of theories as to what is coming next. Between the Soul World, time travel, alternate dimensions, the Quantum Realm, memories, and B.A.R.F., several different Marvel Cinematic Universe devices have been at the center of the latest attempts to solve the mystery. Even though some of these have merit to them, there are also holes. According to the latest theory, it may actually be Shuri and her journey to become the next Black Panther that holds the key.

Shuri May Become Black Panther In Avenger 4

Since T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) vanished, Wakanda is going to be in need of a new ruler and protector. One of the biggest theories for Avengers 4 is that Shuri will actually receive a major promotion and become the next Black Panther.  As shown through Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther, Wakanda doesn't wait in naming a replacement. Almost immediately after arriving back in Wakanda, T'Challa performs the necessary rituals to be the next king after his father's death. Now that he is gone, someone is going to need to fill the position, and it may just be Shuri.

There is precedence for this in the pages of Marvel comics too, as Shuri served as the Queen of Wakanda and its Black Panther for years. However, given Black Panther's popularity in his brief tenure on screen, it would likely take several years if not close to a decade for Marvel to regularly build to Shuri becoming Black Panther. But, since T'Challa is gone, Shuri can step in and give fans a glimpse of what this could be like without sidelining her brother. What could make this even more likely is the distinct possibility of there being a time jump between Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4. Wakanda can't operate for several years without a ruler, and Shuri is the perfect choice. As cool as it may be to see Shuri lead, it is actually the necessary steps she needs to take that could help fix everything.

The Ancestral Plane Can Reveal If The Snap Victims Are Really Dead

According to this new theory on Reddit by u/hockeytalkie, Shuri may be the key to solving Avengers: Infinity War's dustings. If Shuri does become the next ruler of Wakanda and their new Black Panther, then she too will need to go through their traditional rituals. She's proven herself capable in combat before, so she could handle herself at Warrior Falls - if there were any challenges to begin with. Once she succeeds in this area, the next step to becoming a ruler of Wakanda is to drink the Heart-Shaped Herb and visit the Ancestral Plane. It is there that they can communicate with past rulers and loved ones, which is how T'Challa spoke to T'Chaka (John Kani) on two occasions and Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) revisited memories of his father, N'Jobu (Sterling K. Brown).

Related: All the Ways Avengers 4 Will End the MCU As We Know It

However, this step in the process is not currently possible. As far as we know, Killmonger destroyed the last of the Heart-Shaped Herbs. Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) stole one final piece to help revive T'Challa, but all other remains were torched per his commands. The Wakandan traditions may not allow for a new ruler to be crowned until this ceremonial procedure can happen, and since Shuri is the smartest person in the MCU, it isn't crazy to think she could figure out a way to grow more and complete her ascension to the throne. If she is successful, then a journey to the Ancestral Plane would be in order. Who Shuri does or doesn't see during this time could determine what actually happened at the end of Avengers: Infinity War.

Page 2 of 2: The Ancestral Plane Holds the Key

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