Black Panther star Letitia Wright will be bringing the character of Princess Shuri to the big screen for the first time. In the upcoming Marvel film, Chadwick Boseman is starring as Black Panther, but fans of the comics will remember that Shuri herself once became the superhero as well.
Wright spoke to ComicBook.com about how her character is not just a weapons expert but also in many ways an equal to her brother T’Challa. She said:
“I play Princess Shuri and she is the younger sister of King T’Challa and she is super smart, super intelligent, innovative. She studied with vibranium all of her life. She used vibranium and manipulated it in a way that it can be able to be even more powerful. She puts this into the armor. She puts it into the weaponry that we see and that you will see February 16 in the film. She’s just a smart kid.”
Wright said that Shuri is going to be a fierce character who will put it all on the line to protect the people she cares about. Wright also spoke of how this sentiment relates to the events of Captain America: Civil War, and the death of her father. Wright explained:
“Black Panther takes place right after Captain America: Civil War and all of that tragedy. But, in terms of Shuri, she’s someone that doesn’t wear her emotions on her sleeve. She uses that to motivate her to create weapons and protection for her family that’s beyond explanation or beyond comparison because she doesn’t want to have a loss again. So she’s going to do whatever it takes to protect her family.”
Wright goes on to note that the relationship between her and her brother will be a key point in the upcoming film. On this, she said:
“There’s many moments in the film. It’s just like a big brother, little sister thing. It’s constant. In everyday life for them it’s constant. Constantly him teaching her and constantly him being inspired by her. So it’s a back and forth thing that’s beautiful to explore on screen, so I’m excited for you guys to see that.”
Black Panther will be released to theaters on February 16, 2018. The movie will feature a cast that includes Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa (Black Panther), Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia, Danai Gurira as Okoye, Martin Freeman as Everett K. Ross, Daniel Kaluuya as W’Kabi, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Forest Whitaker as Zuri, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, John Kani as T’Chaka, Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Kilmonger, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, and Winston Duke as M’Baku (Man-Ape). In addition, Atandwa Kani has been cast in an unspecified role.
Source: ComicBook.com
