The MCU's Epic Phase 5 Retcon: Breaking News on Black Panther 2 You Can't Miss!

Summary

In the upcoming film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the reason behind Everett Ross's absence is finally addressed. It is revealed in Secret Invasion that he is a Skrull, which retrospectively provides a plausible explanation for his nonappearance at T'Challa's funeral.

Despite participating in the ultimate showdown against Thanos, a significant number of Avengers were unable to attend T'Challa's funeral in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever due to personal obligations or being away from Earth at the time.

A revision in Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe unveils the reason behind the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever exclusion. Despite the emergence of a multiverse, the MCU remains committed to a cohesive, interconnected timeline, ensuring that most projects are interrelated. While certain connections are explicitly established, others only become apparent after both ventures have already been released.

Marvel Studios has recently produced character-centric projects that, although not directly impacting the multiverse, prioritize the development of their own characters. For instance, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 serves as a farewell to the original Guardians of the Galaxy team, while She-Hulk introduces a new character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the case of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the objective is to advance the sub-franchise while paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman and his iconic role as T'Challa. Marvel Studios executed a touching tribute, although one notable MCU character, Everett Ross, was absent.

Secret Invasion's Everett Ross Reveal Fixes His Wakanda Forever Opening Absence

Despite battling together in the Infinity Saga, the Avengers were notably absent from Black Panther's funeral in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The timing of the sequel, along with various hero commitments and off-world endeavors, made it logistically impossible for them to attend. However, it is particularly strange that Ross, who had close ties to T'Challa and Wakanda, was also absent. Marvel Studios has not offered a valid explanation for his absence until the events of Secret Invasion.

Interestingly, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Secret Invasion have minimal connections, as they both exist within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Nonetheless, the revelation in Secret Invasion that Ross has secretly been a Skrull for an uncertain period of time retrospectively clarifies his absence from the funeral. Even if Wakanda extended an invitation, Skrull Ross lacked personal ties to T'Challa, thus he saw no reason to pay his final respects to the fallen hero. Instead, he chose to remain in Washington DC and pursue Gravik's plans for dominating Earth.

Why Other MCU Characters Weren't At T'Challa's Funeral In Black Panther 2

T'Challa and Wakanda played significant roles in the final battle against Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. While Captain America and his allies on Earth searched for a way to combat the Titan, King T'Challa opened the borders of Wakanda and provided unwavering support to the heroes. Despite their desire to attend T'Challa's funeral, many of the surviving Avengers were preoccupied with their personal challenges. This included Thor, Valkyrie, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Wong, and Scarlet Witch. In the meantime, Captain Marvel, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Nick Fury were all away from Earth during the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.