Yet here we are in the shadow of a true, kingly MCU movie. Still, the road to its sequel has been long and marred by tragedy. We may never know exactly what director and co-writer Ryan Coogler had in mind in his initial drafts for what became Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but it obviously changed after the monumental loss of star Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in 2020 at the age of only 43 after a long, private battle with cancer. As a consequence, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever became as much a cinematic monument built to Boseman’s legacy as it is a continuation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s larger narrative. Even so, the movie finds grace while threading that needle between grief and celebration, reverie and looking toward the future. And, yes, it expects you to be familiar with Boseman’s King T’Challa and other elements in the larger MCU. So here’s what you need to have seen, or even rewatch, before sitting down in a theater for Black Panther 2…

Black Panther (2018)

Is it crucial to understand Black Panther 2? Of course!

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Is it crucial to understand Black Panther 2? Not necessarily, but it helps. Why you should probably watch it: The first movie to feature Boseman’s T’Challa did so in a supporting role. At the beginning of Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa is still a prince and the proud son of King T’Chaka (John Kani). It’s seeing how T’Challa thus reacts to the loss of King T’Chaka, who was the previous Black Panther, that is insightful for understanding how other characters react to the loss of T’Challa and their grief in Wakanda Forever. It also gives viewers a better understanding of Wakanda’s place in the world of the MCU, and all the geopolitics that entails. Now, if you want to dig a little deeper, there are other MCU projects that might help you get a better understanding of some of the characters who appear and situations alluded to in Wakanda Forever. There has been a definite “geopolitical” corner of MCU Phase 4, so if you really feel like diving deeper into what we see in this movie, then feel free to check these projects out if you haven’t already. Relatively minor Black Panther 2 spoilers to come… Minor Black Panther 2 spoilers begin now!

Black Widow (2021)

Is it crucial to understand Black Panther 2? Not particularly, but it helps!

The Falcon & The Winter Soldier (2021)

Is it crucial to understand Black Panther 2? Nope!