In an interview with Esquire, Duke discussed the possibility of “Black Panther 3” and what it might mean for M’Baku, saying:
“I myself, as a fan, would love to see how everything plays out … It’s kind of cool, though, being revealed as the King of Wakanda at the end of the movie … That’s huge. So whatever that entails, that’s gonna be a fun one.”
Duke also reflected on what makes a good king, saying, “I think any power or leadership is going to be defined by their willingness to think of the greater good for everyone instead of their own personal needs, and their own agendas. Which, you know, is easier said than done, given the history of the world.”
It’s worth noting that, although M’Baku sometimes brings a dose of levity to his scenes — enough that you might call him the comic relief — he’s already served as a tribal leader and sat on the throne of Jabari Land. And in “Wakanda Forever,” he furthermore shows his leadership skills by advising restraint in the conflict with Namor and the Talokanil, despite the fact that Namor has personally bested him in combat and given him every reason to want revenge, the way Shuri does.
This dovetails with the idea of a “willingness to think of the greater good” and sets M’Baku up as someone who does possess leadership skills. It doesn’t necessarily mean the “Black Panther” movie series is going to reorganize itself around Duke’s character, but films like Jordan Peele’s “Us” have shown that Duke and Nyong’o have their own star power. And with “Black Panther” having tragically lost Boseman, its original star, M’Baku’s ascension to the throne adds an interesting new dynamic to the ensemble going forward.
