Though Shuri may seem to be the favorite to become the new Black Panther, the MCU has already shown that Okoye would actually be the best candidate.

With speculation churning about who will succeed T'Challa's superhero mantle in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it's clear the best candidate to replace him is not his sister, Shuri, but rather the leader of the Dora Milaje, Okoye. The question of who might replace T'Challa has been a point of heavy debate ever since Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing in 2020. Though there have also been calls to recast the character, Marvel Studios confirmed he would not be recast, so it stands to reason that T'Challa will be written out of the MCU and a different character will become the Black Panther.

Shuri was the favorite to replace Black Panther soon after Boseman's death. These predictions were further fueled by the fact that she had the mantle in the comics, and by a report that Letitia Wright would be given a bigger role in the sequel. The character's general popularity has also likely played a role, as she won over many viewers in 2018's Black Panther when she was introduced as the young genius in charge of the Wakandan Design Group. The film also introduced audiences to Okoye, who heads the king's royal guard, known as the Dora Milaje. Okoye has also proven to be a popular character, with Danai Gurira having notable roles in other MCU projects such as Avengers: Endgame and What If...?.

Both Okoye and Shuri will certainly have big roles to play in the sequel, as there's still much to explore in Wakanda even without the Black Panther viewers have come to know. But while Shuri remains an important part of the Black Panther's operation, it's still Okoye who's best suited to wear the costume. Ever since she was first introduced, she has more than proven herself fully worthy of being Wakanda's ultimate protector. Okoye has been established as not only the greatest warrior in Wakanda, but as one of the best fighters in the entire MCU. This is crucial for anyone taking the mantle, as Black Panther showed that while the heart-shaped herb does grant enhanced strength and agility, the ability to fight at a high level is just as necessary as the powers themselves. Without the Black Panther's heart-shaped herb, T'Challa defended his title against M'Baku and nearly defeated Killmonger in ritual combat, and Okoye would also certainly be able to fend off any challengers to the throne relying just on her own skills.

Additionally, Okoye becoming the Black Panther could introduce some interesting political turmoil surrounding someone outside T'Challa's family taking up the mantle. While the MCU hasn't specifically established that the Black Panther needs to be passed down by blood, it could still be seen by many in Wakanda as an unwritten tradition that must be upheld. This could also add to any internal conflict Okoye might feel in taking over the role. Though she is clearly deserving based on her abilities, she might also feel conflicted about being the one to break this long-honored tradition dating back to the MCU's first Black Panther. Wakanda Forever could thus offer an interesting emotional arc for her as she learns to overcome this doubt and embrace her role as her nation's greatest protector.

Shuri, on the other hand, would ultimately not have the proper qualifications for becoming Black Panther outside of simply being part of the royal family. She lacks the fighting skills needed to assume the mantle, as she's relied exclusively on her technology whenever she's had to engage in battle. Of course, it's always possible that she could learn to become a great fighter, but given that she was dusted at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, it's hard to see when that would have happened. But this doesn't mean she isn't incredibly important to the Black Panther mantle and MCU, as Shuri's power is still her mind. It's an ability best utilized as the nation's chief scientist, and since she'd still be a crucial part of Okoye's operation, it stands to reason the two of them would be the perfect duo to tackle whatever threats emerge in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

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