After the unfortunate passing of Chadwick Boseman and several pandemic-related delays, "Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever" has finally overcome all obstacles and is set to be released this November. The first trailer was unveiled last week at SDCC. It officially announced the long-awaited arrival of "Namor," a character comic fans have been anticipating for a long time. Below, we've compiled 20 Easter eggs and detailed analyses from the trailer!
1. No, Woman, No Cry
The trailer opens with Nigerian singer Tems' cover of "No, Woman, No Cry" to express remembrance for Chadwick Boseman. This song describes a warrior about to go to battle, comforting his loved ones at home not to worry. The original creator of the song is the Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley, known as the "Father of Reggae Music."
Using this music also carries another layer of meaning. As the "Father of Reggae Music" in the 60s and 70s, Bob Marley successfully popularized African reggae music in European and American rock, and was dedicated to social movements and Black civil rights in Jamaica. Unfortunately, like Chadwick Boseman, Bob Marley was diagnosed with skin cancer in 1977 and passed away prematurely at the age of 36.
Below is Bob Marley's original version of "No, Woman, No Cry":
2. Nakia
T'Challa's fiancée, and also Wakanda's international consultant, Nakia, gazes into the distance by the coast. In the background, ancient Mesoamerican pyramids can be seen, indicating that this is definitely not Wakanda, but rather a sea area near Central America. This could very likely connect to another main battlefield in the film.
3. Queen Mother
After T'Challa's unfortunate passing, Queen Mother Ramonda assumes the regency. She can be seen sitting on the Black Panther's throne and speaking on behalf of Wakanda at the United Nations.
4. Funeral Dance
Wakanda commemorates the deceased King T'Challa with song and dance. Princess Shuri can be seen holding the Black Panther's helmet.
In many African countries, joyful song and dance are common ways to honor the deceased. In "Captain America: Civil War," T'Challa also mentioned: "In our culture, death is not the end." Therefore, it is understandable that Wakanda commemorates him in this manner.
The most famous recent example is probably the Ghanaian pallbearer dance:
5. Panther God
At the funeral dance, Wakanda's stone gate can be seen with statues of a man and a woman. The figure on the left is the legendary first Black Panther, Bashenga, who was introduced in the opening of "Black Panther 1" as Wakanda's first leader and the first Wakandan to communicate with the Panther God; the female figure on the right is likely the Panther Goddess (Bast) or Sekhmet, whom T'Challa also mentioned in "Captain America: Civil War."
6. Another Deceased Actor
At the tribal council, the elder character played by actress Dorothy Steel can be seen returning. Sadly, Dorothy Steel passed away at the age of 95 during filming in 2021. It is currently uncertain how her character's storyline will be handled in the film, but it is speculated that she might perish in the flood.
7. Namor
This film will grandly introduce a long-buried MCU plot point: "Namor" (meaning "Son of Vengeance" in comics), played by "Narcos: Mexico" actor Tenoch Huerta.
Namor is one of the earliest heroes created by "Timely Comics," the predecessor of Marvel Comics, and is the King of "Atlantis." His origin story is very similar to DC Comics' "Aquaman," both being half-human, half-Atlantean children of an Atlantean mother and a human father, but he appeared earlier in comic history than the latter (in fact, both comic companies have many characters that copy each other~).
Incidentally, as early as "Iron Man 2," in the scene where Nick Fury recruits Tony, there was a map marking a body of water off the coast of South America, indirectly laying the groundwork for Namor. At that time, when the MCU was still unformed, this was purely a comic book Easter egg, but now it is officially confirmed that this oldest ancestral Marvel hero will be introduced.
8. Aztec Culture
Furthermore, Namor's homeland in this film will be changed from "Atlantis" to "Talocan," inspired by Aztec culture. In Aztec civilization, Tlalocan is the underwater city ruled by the rain god "Tlaloc." In the trailer, Namor's headdress (which can be seen more clearly in the art design images) is designed according to the likeness of "Tlaloc."
Later in the trailer, Namor can also be seen touching a mural of an Aztec god.
9. Remembering T'Challa
At T'Challa's funeral in Wakanda, the Wakandan script on the wall reads: "Rest in Power, T’Challa, Our Hero, An Honor, Forever."
The Panther, King Forever, Lives in Us 
10. Namor's Birth
The trailer shows a scene of Namor being born in the sea, implying that this film will serve as Namor's origin story and introduce his background. It can be noted that Namor has a pair of wings on his ankles. In the comics, he holds the title of "the first mutant," and the fin-like wings on his feet are his mutant superpower. After "Ms. Marvel" officially introduced the concept of "mutants" into the MCU, Namor also seems to continue the mutant lineage.
11. Dive Team
The trailer shows an underwater dive team. Their true identity is currently unclear; they are most likely an armed force searching for "Atlantis" or mining Vibranium from the seabed. Another scene shows an armed force seemingly coercing Wakandan scientists.
12. Wakanda Engulfed in "Fire" and "Flood"
Shuri stands before the throne, looking at the flooded landscape engulfed in flames. This is very likely the work of Namor and the Talocan people.
In the 2012 "Avengers vs. X-Men" comic, the "X-Men" organization, including Namor, tracked the Avengers to attack Wakanda and used Namor's aquatic superpowers to flood Wakanda.
13. Ironheart
Riri Williams, "Ironheart," played by Dominique Thorne, seems to play a crucial role in this film and will collaborate scientifically with Shuri. Riri Williams first appeared in the 2016 "Invincible Iron Man" Vol. 2 comic as a 15-year-old genius student attending MIT. She independently developed a suit similar to Iron Man's at school. After successfully preventing two prisoners from escaping, Tony Stark heard of her deeds and took her on as his protégé.
Marvel has confirmed that a Disney+ series starring "Ironheart" Riri will be released in late next year, belonging to MCU Phase Five.
14. Alright
When the song "No, Woman, No Cry" sings "Everything's gonna be alright," it merges with rapper Kendrick Lamar's song "Alright." This song was written by Kendrick Lamar after visiting the "Victor Verster Prison" in South Africa, where Mandela was once imprisoned, inspiring a wide range of African compatriots. Later, this song generally became the "anthem" for African communities during protests.
15. Namora
Several blue-skinned Talocan warriors invade a location in the United States. The leader in the middle is Namor's cousin, "Namora" (meaning "Daughter of Vengeance"). In the comics, she is also an Atlantean and human hybrid, but with the parents' roles reversed compared to Namor. In addition to sharing the title of "Sub-Mariner" with Namor, her other titles include "Sea Beauty" and "Imperius Regina."
16. Attuma
To Namora's left is "Attuma," a villain from the "Namor" comics who possesses endurance beyond any Atlantean. He is a tribal leader long exiled by Namor, who has repeatedly conspired and incited to overthrow Namor's kingship. However, from the trailer, it appears Attuma may have a different story.
17. Harvard Bridge Conflict
The location attacked by the warriors is the Harvard Bridge, which connects Boston and Massachusetts. Not far from it is MIT, where Riri studies. Later in the trailer, Okoye is also seen involved in this conflict, making one wonder if Riri's collaboration with Wakanda has threatened the Talocan people.
18. Agent Ross
UN consultant Agent Ross appears on the Harvard Bridge during the day, suggesting that Agent Ross may once again be embroiled in Wakanda's international disputes due to the Talocan attack.
19. Namor's Childhood Trauma
A young Namor and other blue-skinned Talocan people stand in front of a burning human dwelling, which they very likely set ablaze. It's worth noting that in the distance, some ancient carts can be seen. In comic book lore, Atlanteans have a longer lifespan than normal humans, so Namor's childhood could date back to the First Industrial Revolution, between 1760 and 1840. Those they burned down might also be the colonizers who persecuted them.
20. Homage to Iron Man
Riri hammers out a heart-shaped piece of iron, not only hinting at her moniker "Ironheart" but also paying homage to the classic scene in "Iron Man 1" where Tony Stark builds the Mark I.
21. Aneka
The character Aneka of the Dora Milaje. In the comics, she is a trainer for the Dora Milaje and is in a relationship with Ayo. In this film, it is rumored that she will be with Okoye.
Additionally, Daniel Kaluuya, who played Okoye's lover W'Kabi in the first film, will not appear in this movie due to scheduling conflicts with director Jordan Peele's film "Nope."
22. New Black Panther
The end of the trailer shows the back of the new Black Panther. Current rumors suggest possible successors include Shuri or M'Baku, but given the leaner physique in the trailer, it is more likely to be Shuri. The trailer shows Shuri wearing some kind of device around her neck, which may be similar to the necklace T'Challa used to activate his Black Panther suit.
