Shuri (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Shuri is a fictional character portrayed primarily by Letitia Wright in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, also inspired by the James Bond character Q. She is the courageous and tech-savvy younger sister of T'Challa, and the daughter of T'Chaka and Ramonda, all preceding monarchs of Wakanda. Highly intelligent and a master engineer, she is Wakanda's lead scientist and the princess of the country. Shuri assists her brother in reclaiming the Wakandan throne from their cousin N'Jadaka following their father's death, later assisting the Avengers in the battle against Thanos, attempting to use her technology to safely remove the Mind Stone from Vision's head. However, Corvus Glaive prevents this and Shuri falls victim to the Blip. She is restored five years later and joins the final battle against an alternate variant of Thanos before resuming her role in Wakanda. One year after her brother's death, and one week after her mother's death, she takes his place and becomes the new Black Panther, defeating Namor in combat and forming an alliance with Talokan against the rest of the world.

, the character has appeared in four films. Wright's portrayal of Shuri has been well received.

Alternate versions from within the MCU multiverse appear in the animated series '' What If...?'' (2021), voiced by Ozioma Akagha.

Concept and creation

Created by the writer Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr., Shuri first appeared in '' Black Panther'' (Vol. 4) #2 (May 2005). The character, originally written as a princess of Wakanda and a supporting character, trains to and eventually succeeds her older brother T'Challa, becoming the Black Panther and ruler of Wakanda in her own right.''Black Panther'' vol. 5, #1-2 (April - May 2009). Marvel Comics.''Black Panther'' vol. 5, #3-6 (June - September 2009). Marvel Comics. In 2018, Marvel published her first vital solo series titled ''SHURI'', written by Nnedi Okorafor, a coming of age story which focused on Shuri dealing with her brother being absent from the throne while exploring her leadership and interests.

Actor Donald Glover and his brother Stephen made some minor contributions to an early draft of the script for Shuri's debut film feature ''Black Panther'', developing the sibling relationship between T'Challa and Shuri. The James Bond character Q was a key influence on the development of Shuri during the writing phase of ''Black Panther'', with director Ryan Coogler saying:

Characterization

Personality and intelligence

In ''Black Panther'', Shuri is portrayed as T'Challa's 16-year-old sister who designs new technology for her country of Wakanda. Letitia Wright described Shuri as innovative of spirit and mind, wanting to take Wakanda to "a new place", and felt she was a good role model for young black girls. The film's executive producer Nate Moore called Shuri the smartest person in the world, even more so than Tony Stark. The Russo Brothers, directors of '' Avengers: Infinity War'' and '' Avengers: Endgame'', agreed with the interpretation of her as the smartest character.

Letitia Wright described Shuri's intelligence as "really cool", explaining: "Because, you know, we sometimes — when we see people who are 'super intelligent' and 'super smart', they don't really look like me." She further added, " orMarvel to be behind it and to be brave enough to say, 'She is the smartest girl in the universe – in the Marvel Universe' and 'Yes, she's younger than everyone'… Her and Peter Parker are pretty much the smartest kids on the block.'" In another interview, addressing Shuri as an inspiration for young people, she explained that "Tony and Banner are great, not only as actors but in the films themselves. They're amazing, iconic characters, so to be able to be on par with them… and that's not even something I said! I didn't say that, the head of Marvel said that, and it kind of created a chain reaction. And Nate Moore said those things, so talk to those guys! They felt really strongly that Shuri was the smartest person in the universe, and I'm not going to downplay that. Young people are the future, so it's only right to allow that to be the thing that's being said online."

Appearance and technology

''Black Panther'' costume designer Ruth E. Carter included an Adinkra symbol representing purpose on one of Shuri's shirts, similar to a Waawa motif, explaining that Shuri "certainly has a purpose in Wakanda". Shuri's artificial intelligence 'Griot' was voiced by Trevor Noah, with the name 'Griot' being a West African term for a historian or storyteller.

Fictional character biography

Helping T'Challa and Bucky Barnes

In 2016, with Shuri's father T'Chaka having died, her brother T'Challa assumes the Wakandan throne. She attends his coronation ceremony with her mother Ramonda. At the ceremony, the Jabari Tribe's leader M'Baku challenges T'Challa for the crown in ritual combat, and mocks him for his use of Shuri's technology. Although M'Baku initially has the upper hand, T'Challa defeats M'Baku and persuades him to yield rather than die. After Ulysses Klaue and his accomplice Erik "Killmonger" Stevens steal a Wakandan artifact from a London museum, T'Challa, Okoye, and Nakia travel to Busan, South Korea, with Shuri providing T'Challa with a new vibration-absorbent Black Panther suit. Shuri partakes in the ensuing car chase via hologram. After Everett K. Ross is gravely injured protecting Nakia, T'Challa takes Ross to Wakanda, where Shuri heals Ross using vibranium technology.

Nakia, Shuri, Ramonda, and Ross later flee to the Jabari Tribe for aid after Erik Stevens, revealed to be T'Challa and Shuri's cousin N'Jadaka, seizes the Wakandan throne and hurls T'Challa off a waterfall, presumably to his death. They find a comatose T'Challa, rescued by the Jabari in repayment for sparing M'Baku's life. Healed by a heart-shaped herb that Nakia stole, T'Challa returns to fight N'Jadaka and defeats him after Shuri initiates a maglev train, de-powering N'Jadaka's Black Panther suit. After killing N'Jadaka, T'Challa establishes an outreach center at the building where N'Jadaka's father N'Jobu died, to be run by Nakia and Shuri. Shuri also helps Bucky Barnes with his recovery from Hydra brainwashing, dubbing him the 'White Wolf'.

Infinity War and resurrection

In 2018, Thanos and his children come to Earth to retrieve the Infinity Stones. Shuri is tasked by T'Challa, Steve Rogers, and other members of the Avengers to safely remove the Mind Stone from Vision, as they go fight the incoming alien army. Wanda Maximoff is tasked to stand guard and protect Shuri as she works. However, as the battle proceeds on the fields, Maximoff leaves her post, which inadvertently allows Corvus Glaive to infiltrate the facility, preventing her from finishing her work. Vision follows to assist, but this allows Thanos to take the Mind Stone. Moments later, the Blip happens and Shuri disintegrates.

In 2023, Shuri is restored to life and is brought via portal by the Masters of the Mystic Arts to the destroyed Avengers Compound to join the battle against an alternate Thanos and his army. Afterwards, she returns home and reunites with her mother. A week later, she attends Tony Stark’s funeral with her brother and Okoye.

Becoming Black Panther and facing Namor

Shortly after, T'Challa dies of a disease that Shuri believes could have been cured by the heart-shaped herb. Shuri has been attempting to synthetically recreate the herb after it was destroyed by Killmonger but is unsuccessful.

One year after T'Challa's death, Ramonda takes Shuri to burn the outfits they wore to the funeral, signifying the end of the period of mourning. Shuri refuses to burn the outfit, as she is still grieving. The two then encounter Namor, a mutant with wings on his ankles, who has bypassed Wakanda's advanced security systems. He reveals that the CIA has used a Vibranium detecting machine to locate Vibranium underwater. Namor holds Wakanda responsible for the Vibranium race and offers them an ultimatum: find the scientist who made the machine and bring them to him, or he will wage war on Wakanda. Shuri and Okoye travel to Boston to meet the creator of the machine, MIT student Riri Williams. Williams is initially reluctant to go with them but eventually agrees. The group is chased by the FBI and ambushed by Namor's warriors, who take Shuri and Williams to meet Namor.

Namor shows Shuri around the undersea kingdom of Talokan, which he has guarded for centuries and is rich in Vibranium. Bitter at the surface world that once rejected him, Namor offers an alliance with Wakanda against the rest of the world but promises to destroy Wakanda first if they refuse. Nakia infiltrates Talokan to rescue Shuri and Williams, and Namor retaliates with an attack against the capital of Wakanda, flooding the city. During the attack, Ramonda drowns after saving Williams from the water. Namor vows to return in a week, and the citizens of Wakanda evacuate to the Jabari Land.

Shuri, using a remnant of the herb that gave Namor's people their underwater abilities, synthetically reconstructs the heart-shaped herb. After ingesting the herb, she is transported to the ancestral plane, where she sees Killmonger, who urges her to kill Namor as revenge for her mother's death. Upon waking up, Shuri discovers she has gained the powers of the Black Panther, and travels to the Jabari Land to meet with the tribes of Wakanda, who accept her as their new protector. M’Baku tries to persuade Shuri to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but she does not listen and orders an immediate counter-attack on Namor.

The Wakandans, on their Sea Leopard vessel, set a trap for Namor, luring him and his warriors to the surface, and a battle ensues. Shuri separates Namor from the rest of his people, intending to dry him out and weaken him. The pair crash on a desert beach and fight. Shuri eventually gains the upper hand, but decides to spare Namor's life, offering him a peaceful alliance. Namor accepts and his warriors retreat.

Shuri visits Nakia in Haiti and burns her funeral clothes. She then learns that Nakia and T'Challa have a son, Toussaint, who Nakia has been raising in secret far from the pressure of living in Wakanda, and Toussaint reveals that his Wakandan name is T'Challa.

Alternate versions

Several alternate versions of Shuri appear in the animated series ''What If...?'', in which she is voiced by Ozioma Akagha.

Meeting Star-Lord T'Challa

In an alternate 2008, Shuri is present when her long-lost older brother, Star-Lord T'Challa, returns to Wakanda from outer space with the Ravagers.

American–Wakandan war

In an alternate 2010, Killmonger murders T'Challa and engineers an American invasion of Wakanda using "Stark Liberator" drone, which Killmonger then defeats, manipulating king T'Chaka into making him the next Black Panther. Shuri is able to see through this deception and brings evidence of it to Pepper Potts before attempting to arrest Killmonger with Potts and the Dora Milaje. However, Killmonger is then recruited by the Watcher to the Guardians of the Multiverse, leaving the group perplexed when they find him missing (Killmonger is left trapped in a pocket dimension when he tries to take the Infinity Stones for himself).

Reception

Critical response and analysis

Reviews initially were positive of the character and the character's potential for the future, being described as a "fan-favorite".
Jacob Stolworthy of British publication ''The Independent'' praised the character, describing her as "one of ''Black Panthers biggest revelations". Manhola Dargis of the ''New York Times'', meanwhile, when reviewing ''Black Panther'', praised Shuri as part of "a phalanx of women... who cushion 'Challain maternal, military, sisterly and scientific support", describing Wright's performance as "vivacious" and likening Shuri to "Bond's gadget guy Q.html" ;"title="nowiki/> Q">nowiki/> Q. Dave Trumbore of ''Collider'' and Caroline Framke of '' Vox'' also likened her relationship with T'Challa to what Q is to James Bond. Her mocking of Everett K. Ross as a "broken white boy" was particularly positively received in media commentary. Shuri's delivery of the line "What are those?" in the film, a usage of a popular 2015 Internet meme, was also positively received, although the meme's creator Brian 'Brusco' Moore commented negatively on the renewed attention to the meme. Caroline Framke of ''Vox'', meanwhile, praised the depiction of Shuri as "the best part" of ''Black Panther'', noting her "elastic, game-for-anything energy" and citing her as "the feisty Disney princess we need and deserve".

The author of ''Dear Martin'' and chosen author for Scholastic Corporation's novel adaption of Shuri in the young adult fiction novel ''Shuri: A Black Panther Novel'', Nic Stone, praised the film version of the character claiming "I fell hard for the witty STEM genius girl who totally stole the whole show". Having been labeled as the MCU's smartest character, it is often debated in media whether she or Tony Stark is smarter.

Awards and nominations

Letitia Wright received various accolades and nominations for her portrayal of Shuri in ''Black Panther''.

In other media

The book ''Wakanda Files: A Technological Exploration of the Avengers and Beyond'' focuses on the Avengers from Shuri's perspective, referencing the events of the films and the television series ''Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.''.

See also

* Characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Notes

References

External links

Shuri
on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki
*

Shuri
on Marvel.com

{{Marvel Cinematic Universe, Cast

Black Panther (film series)
Black characters in films
Female characters in film
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Fictional characters displaced in time
Fictional characters with superhuman senses
Fictional electronic engineers
Fictional female engineers
Fictional female scientists
Fictional inventors
Fictional princesses
Fictional women soldiers and warriors
Film characters introduced in 2018
Marvel Cinematic Universe characters
Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds
Marvel Comics characters with accelerated healing
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
Marvel Comics female superheroes
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Teenage characters in film
Wakandans