Shuri is “Tony Stark of Wakanda” in Black Panther

Black Panther (2018) – Shuri (Letitia Wright)

Chadwick Boseman says his sister Shuri is the “most important character” in Black Panther (2018).

Boseman sat down with CNET to talk about his role in the upcoming
superhero movie as T’Chaka aka Black Panther. There are a number of
strong women in the movie including Shuri portrayed by Letitia Wright.

“Her role is the most important.” Boseman told CNET.
“In the comic book, T’Challa is a scientist and a king, but my sister
is the whiz kid. She is the one with that gift. She’s the Tony Stark of
Wakanda. She’s witty, she’s cool, she’s funny. Now, T’Challa is good in
science too, but she’s the whiz. That’s the way the story’s been told
forever. T’Challa is technologically sound. He’s a scientist as well,
but she’s the minister of technology.”

Played by Robert Downey Jr. Tony Stark aka Iron Man is the current
snarky master of technology in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only
does he have his own tech company, Stark Enterprises, he also designs
all the technology used by the Avengers and created a suit for
Spider-Man.

Most of Wakanda’s tech and weapons are created by Shuri, including the new nano-tech suit that T’Challa wears.

“If anyone doesn’t think there’s a place for women in tech,” Boseman
argued, “it’s completely demolished in this movie.” Currently women in
tech face sexism, harassment and a tremendous gender wage gap. So,
while 74 percent of young girls express interest in STEM fields and
computer science they hold only 25 percent of computing jobs. It’s a real problem. But it’s worse for women of color. According to a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets by the American Geophysical Union women of color in astronomy and planetary science face more gender and race related hostile environments.

Shuri was created by Ben Dunn in 2002 for Marvel Manaverse #2. She was brought into mainstream continuity by writer
Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita, Jr., in Black Panther
#2 (2005).

Shuri is T’Chaka’s youngest child and younger half-sister of
T’Challa. She’s the only biological child of T’Chaka’s second wife,
Ramonda played by Angela Bassett.

Wright hopes Shuri will inspire other women and girls. “She’s princess
of Wakanda, but also she designs all of the new technology there,”
Wright told Interview Magazine.
“She has an innovative spirit and an innovative mind, and she wants to
take Wakanda to a new place. Also, she has a great fashion sense,
better than mine. She’s so vibrant; a beautiful spirit, but also so
focused on what she does. And that’s good for other people to see,
especially young people to see, because it’s like, ‘Look, there’s a
young black girl who loves technology and she’s from Africa.’ It’s
something refreshing.”

Marvel is trying to get involved in spreading the word on the place for women in the tech industry. For Thor: Ragnarok Marvel Studios encouraged young girls to explore the superpower of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) with Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok Superpower of Stem Challenge”.

Boseman reflected on how the Black Panther movie is breaking sterotypes all across the board. Not just for people of color but women as well.

“It’s just this tremendous opportunity, not just for me but for all of
us really to get out of our boxes,” Boseman added.”It’s not just black
people getting out of their boxes. Everybody is excited about the
opportunity to do something that we should have already done. People
are excited about seeing new stuff, but I think they’re extra excited
about seeing stuff they should have seen already.”

Marvel is doing something special next year and we can’t wait.

Letitia Wright will reprise her role along with Chadwick Boseman in Avengers: Infinity War.

If you’re looking to support minority women in STEM then read Popular Science’s excellent article 5 Ways To Support Minority STEM Students.

For a glimpse into the future, check out this Wired magazine cover featuring Shuri created by Darian Robbins.

ABOUT BLACK PANTHER (2018)

Official Synopsis: “After the events of Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members of the Dora Milaje, Wakanadan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.”

Black Panther (2018) stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger, 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, Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaue, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, John Kani as T’Chaka, Winston Duke as M’Baku / Man Ape, Letitia Wright as Shuri, Sterling K. Brown as N’Jobu, Isaach de Bankolé, Nabiyah Be as Tilda Johnson, Sydelle Noel as Xoliswa, and Atandwa Kani.

Directed by Ryan Coogler

Screenplay by Joe Robert Cole and Ryan Coogler

Music by Ludwig Göransson

Cinematography by Rachel Morrison

Production design by Hannah Beachler

Black Panther (2018) is scheduled to be released February 16, 2018 (United States)

Check back for all the Black Panther
movie news and hype on The Geek Twins!

What do you think of Shuri’s character in Black Panther? Are you looking forward to seeing the Wakandan Tony Stark?

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