‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Brings Surprising Cameos

A scene from Marvel Studios' Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

SPOILER ALERT: This story contains plot details on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is finally here — and the blockbuster has several twists and surprises.

The long-awaited Marvel sequel arrived in theaters this weekend, providing a thoughtful goodbye to King T’Challa after the death of franchise star Chadwick Boseman in 2020.

The follow-up expands the world of the first Black Panther film, with a plot that criss-crosses the globe. While there are several new characters, many characters from the first film return.

Related Story‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Embraced by Fans for ‘Incredible’ Performances

Related Story: Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger in Black Panther. (Credit: Marvel)

Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger. (Credit: Marvel)The writers even found a way to bring back Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) — the antagonist in the first film.

The legendary villain passed on… but he’s back from the dead in Wakanda Forever… although not for long.

When Shuri (Letitia Wright) takes a newly-created synthetic version of the heart-shaped herb that gives the Black Panther superpowers, she briefly visits the realm of her ancestors.

She expects to see her late brother, but instead encounters Killmonger. Ever the antagonist, he calls her brother weak for his nobility and asks Shuri if she has what it takes to battle new antagonist Namor (Tenoch Huerta Mejía) and his underwater kingdom.

Related Story: Rihanna Unveils New Single ‘Lift Me Up’ From ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Soundtrack (Video)

Anderson Cooper (Credit: CNN)
Anderson Cooper anchoring AC 360 (Credit: CNN)

Fans will likely also be caught off guard when Anderson Cooper appears in the film — yes the CNN anchor.

Cooper plays himself — delivering doom and gloom as the world in Wakanda crumbles.

Kudos to Cooper, who actually has a bigger part in the film than Michael B. Jordan. The journalist provides news updates throughout the 2 hour 41 minute movie, returning with breaking news when you least expect it.

This isn’t his first appearance in a superhero movie. The CNN anchor previously had a role in the 2016 DC film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, once again playing himself.

To get a glimpse of Cooper in the MCU, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now playing in theaters nationwide.