A solo series on the leader of the Dora Milaje has been in discussion for quite some time, but how much do we know of the upcoming Marvel show?
One of Black Panther‘s most memorable characters is getting her own spinoff series, presumably eponymously titled Okoye. The Wakanda war general was introduced in Black Panther comics in 1993, but the character gained wider fame in the 2010s thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Leading Wakanda’s all-female military contingent, the Dora Milaje, Okoye became a fan-favorite character after her MCU screen debut, portrayed by The Walking Dead alumna Danai Gurira, in 2018’s Black Panther. Okoye also appeared in the ambitious closing chapters of MCU Phase 3: Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Gurira reprised her role in the Marvel anthology series What..If and the sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Okoye has proven to be the quintessential MCU character. She’s proficient in fighting styles during action scenes and also carries dramatic depth, as can be seen from her interactions with T’Challa, Queen Ramonda, Shuri, and others. Marvel’s comedy might be going too far with some recent movies, but Okoye still boasts natural comedic timing in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s light-hearted scenes. From mentoring Shuri to getting self-conscious about her fashion choices, Gurira offers a different side of Okoye in the Black Panther sequel. It is this range that can be explored even further with Okoye’s very own television adventure for Disney Plus.
Okoye Latest News
In January 2023, Danai Gurira appeared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and revealed some possibilities for an Okoye spinoff. While Colbert was eager to ask her for updates, Gurira tried to be as vague as she could. “I have been told… that I can gently allude to this possibility. So I am gently alluding.” The actress and playwright said this about Okoye’s future in the MCU with Colbert jokingly suggesting that he couldn’t get any more details. While Gurira’s subtle hints increased the expectations for an Okoye series, it is still uncertain if this will be a standalone spinoff or a part of a larger Wakanda-centric show.
The confusion arises from the fact that Marvel had announced two Black Panther spinoff projects in 2021, one being a show focusing on Wakanda and its people and the other being the Okoye show. As neither of the two projects has received any major updates since then, there is also speculation that both concepts might weave together into one show. However, a Hollywood Reporter profile on Gurira’s attorney, Jamie Mandelbaum, as a part of its feature on Hollywood’s top lawyers revealed that he helped Gurira secure an Okoye origin series. So, audiences will at least have one Okoye show, another hope for Disney Plus to fight the MCU superhero fatigue.
Okoye Confirmed
The earliest confirmation for Okoye came in May 2021 when it was announced that Marvel would be producing two shows springing out of the Black Panther universe. A Deadline report was quick to suggest the possibility of two different series with director and screenwriter Ryan Coogler creating one show on the various facets of Wakandan society while Okoye would feature in her own show. The same report pointed to the obvious possibility of Gurira also appearing in Coogler’s Wakanda series, albeit not as the lead. Filming is expected to start on the show in 2023, as Coogler was involved in the production and release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever a year earlier.
Okoye CastSimilarly, other franchise regulars might also feature as guest stars or supporting actors including the likes of Angela Basset as Queen Ramonda (if it’s a prequel), Letitia Wright as Shuri, and Lupita Nyong’o as Nakia. One major cast addition in Okoye can be Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya with W’Kabi finally returning for the Black Panther spinoff series. Kaluuya’s W’Kabi was a major character in the first Black Panther movie, and even though he had ideological conflicts with Okoye, the two were revealed to be married to each other. Their tumultuous bond can be fleshed out in greater detail in the series.
Marvel’s Okoye series is bound to reveal new faces to the Wakandan heroine’s journey, but it is obvious that Danai Gurira will lead the main cast. Also known for portraying the popular Walking Dead character Michonne, Gurira appeared in 95 episodes of the post-apocalyptic series. So, it’s safe to say that Gurira has had significant television experience ensuring she can lead a series on her own. With Okoye’s authority over the Dora Milaje, other actresses playing the members of the warrior group are also set to return. They include Florence Kasumba, who plays the Dora Milaje general Ayo, and Michaela Coel, who plays Aneka, Ayo’s love interest and fellow warrior.
