If you’re like most of us, the tragic turn near the end of the film for Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger was tough to handle.

However, if you think that Jordan as Killmonger won’t appear in the inevitable sequel, think again.

Let’s start with the fact that Erik Killmonger has been resurrected from the dead multiple times over many years in the Marvel comics. Let’s also not forget that T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) himself was resurrected, thanks to M’Baku (Winston Duke) and the Jabari tribe, in this film.

In his most recent comic book death, Killmonger was killed by Monica Rambeau (who DeWanda Wise may or may not be portraying in the upcoming Captain Marvel film). Many are speculating due to the massive popularity of the film and the massive impression that Jordan has made in this role, the character could even be resurrected in the current run of the comics written by Ta-Nehsi Coates. The Coates run has been cited as an incarnation of the Black Panther comic that heavily influenced this first feature film adaptation of the series.

So this means Killmonger’s future at the end of Black Panther could be left unanswered.

Did T’Challa take him somewhere else after his supposed death? Could Shuri and her technology have a hand in saving him?

Now, this is just us speculating because the character’s last words, “Bury me in the ocean with my ancestors who jumped from ships Because they knew death was better than bondage,” may be too poignant of a moment for film history for him to make a comeback. A bigger statement could be made by not having Killmonger return.  

As for every Black Panther character featured in the film, there is a lot of source material that could be used. Popular theories floating around the interwebs include Killmonger’s request to being thrown in the ocean resulting in him being revived by another Marvel villain with Black Panther ties, the aquatic mutant, Namor. Another thought is that Killmonger could be tied to the Nakia’s supervillain alter-ego, Malice, although I honestly don’t see Marvel doing that, or at least having a Malice character as Nakia. There could be another Malice, however.

But all in all, don’t think for a second that seeing Jordan as Killmonger in a potential Black Panther 2 is out of the question because as Kevin Feige, co-president of Marvel Studios has said “…Panther has been around for more than half a century in the comic books and there are many, many stories to tell.”

So essentially, it’s just best that we go ahead and get ready for Wakanda round 2 and keep our eyes peeled, because anything can happen.

 

Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright and Winston Duke, with Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker and Andy Serkis.

The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole wrote the screenplay.

Black Panther is in theaters now.