M'Baku Is King of Wakanda in New 'Avengers: Doomsday' Teaser as Black Panther Characters Meet the Fantastic Four
Marvel Studios has released the fourth teaser for Avengers: Doomsday, and this one carries significant weight for Black Panther fans. The footage, which played before Avatar: Fire and Ash screenings before arriving online, confirms what was teased at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Winston Duke's M'Baku is now the King of Wakanda. More dramatically, it also reveals the first on-screen meeting between the Wakandans and the Fantastic Four, marking a historic crossover moment in the expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Teaser Highlights
Release Date: Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 16-18, 2026
Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
Key Wakandan Returns: Shuri (Letitia Wright), M'Baku (Winston Duke), Namor (Tenoch Huerta)
Fantastic Four Appearance: Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)
Main Villain: Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.)
Shuri's Grief and M'Baku's Ascension
The teaser opens with Letitia Wright's Shuri, still wearing the Black Panther suit she inherited after Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing, landing in a vast desert. Her voiceover immediately establishes the emotional weight she continues to carry: "I've lost everyone that matters to me. A king has his duties, to prepare our people for the afterlife. I have mine."
These words reference the devastating losses Shuri has endured across the Black Panther films. Her father King T'Chaka died in Captain America: Civil War. Her brother T'Challa, brilliantly portrayed by Chadwick Boseman, passed away between films, a loss the MCU honored by making it canonical to the story rather than recasting. Then in Wakanda Forever, her mother Queen Ramonda, played by Angela Bassett, was killed during Namor's attack on Wakanda.
For a character who began as the genius tech-savvy princess providing comedic relief and brilliant innovations, Shuri has been forced to mature through unimaginable trauma. This teaser suggests that journey of grief is far from over, even as she continues to serve as Black Panther. There's a melancholy to her narration, scored against a haunting blend of the Avengers theme and the Black Panther score, that signals she's still processing everything she's lost.
"I've lost everyone that matters to me. A king has his duties, to prepare our people for the afterlife. I have mine."
The teaser's most significant revelation comes when M'Baku introduces himself to Ben Grimm: "King M'Baku of Wakanda." This confirms the outcome that Wakanda Forever set up but didn't explicitly show. At that film's conclusion, Shuri chose not to challenge M'Baku for the throne during the succession ritual, instead opting to continue her healing journey. The implication was that M'Baku would become king, but this is the first official confirmation of his new title.
The Wakanda-Talokan Alliance Holds
One of the most intriguing elements of the teaser is the presence of Namor and his cousin Namora, suggesting that the truce established at the end of Wakanda Forever has not only held but potentially deepened into a genuine alliance. Namor appears in what fans are describing as a more comic-accurate black suit, a visual upgrade from the green trunks he wore in his MCU debut.
The fact that Wakandans and Talokans are standing together is narratively significant. Wakanda Forever positioned Namor and his underwater kingdom Talokan as antagonists whose attack on Wakanda resulted in Queen Ramonda's death. The film's climax saw Shuri defeating Namor in combat but choosing mercy over vengeance, forging a tentative alliance between their nations born from mutual understanding rather than conquest.
Seeing them united in this teaser suggests several possibilities. The threat posed by Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday is clearly catastrophic enough to require former enemies to work together. Both Wakanda and Talokan are isolationist nations with advanced technology and resources beyond what the surface world possesses, making them natural allies against multiversal threats. Their combined forces represent a formidable addition to Earth's defenders.
Comic Book Context: In Marvel Comics, Namor and the Fantastic Four have a complex history. Namor has often been portrayed with romantic feelings for Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, which has caused tension with her husband Reed Richards. Whether the MCU will explore this dynamic remains to be seen, but it adds an interesting layer to having these characters finally meet on screen. Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm doesn't appear in this particular teaser, but she's confirmed for the full film.
The Thing Meets Wakanda: A Historic MCU Crossover
The most crowd-pleasing moment in the teaser comes at the end, when Ben Grimm introduces himself to M'Baku. It's played for gentle humor, with M'Baku offering his formal title and Ben responding in his characteristically grounded way: "Ben. Yancy Street between Broome and Grand." The reference to Yancy Street, Ben Grimm's childhood neighborhood in Marvel Comics, is a nice touch that connects the character to his roots while also creating contrast with M'Baku's regal bearing.
This encounter represents the first time any member of the Fantastic Four has met another MCU character on screen. The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which released last summer, took place in an alternate 1960s timeline, keeping Marvel's First Family separate from the main MCU continuity. The post-credits scene of Thunderbolts teased their arrival with a shot of their spaceship, but this teaser shows them actually interacting with established MCU characters.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach's Thing is the only Fantastic Four member visible in the footage, still wearing the same suit introduced in First Steps. This breaks from the MCU's typical pattern of giving heroes new costumes for every film, suggesting either that not much time has passed since their solo film or that their crossing into the main MCU timeline happened quickly enough that costume changes haven't been necessary.
The absence of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) from the teaser doesn't mean they won't be present in the film. Marvel's marketing strategy for Doomsday has involved releasing focused teasers highlighting different character groupings. Previous teasers centered on Captain America, Thor, and the X-Men. This Wakanda-focused teaser naturally emphasizes Ben Grimm as the representative meeting with the African nation's leadership.
New Looks, New Alliances
Sharp-eyed viewers have noticed that both Shuri and M'Baku appear to be wearing updated costumes that incorporate design elements celebrating both Wakandan and Talokan heritage. This visual storytelling reinforces the alliance between the two nations and suggests a deeper cultural exchange has occurred since we last saw them. It's a subtle but meaningful detail that shows how these characters and cultures are evolving.
The teaser also features brief glimpses of Wakandan and Talokan representatives standing together, further emphasizing the unified front these nations are presenting. The desert setting is intriguing and unexplained, raising questions about where this meeting is taking place and why. Is this neutral ground? A strategic location? The site of some significant event? The Russo brothers are known for their careful visual storytelling, so the location choice likely carries meaning beyond simple aesthetics.
Shuri's Continued Journey and Potential T'Challa Return
Shuri's statement that she's "lost everyone that matters to me" is both heartbreaking and potentially significant for another reason. Fans have pointed out that this phrasing seems to exclude her nephew, Prince T'Challa, the son of T'Challa and Nakia who was revealed at the end of Wakanda Forever. Some interpret this as narrative oversight, but others see it as setup for rumored plot developments.
Speculation has been building that a variant of an older T'Challa might appear in either Doomsday or its sequel Avengers: Secret Wars. This would allow the MCU to honor Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa while acknowledging that the multiverse makes it possible to meet different versions of beloved characters. If this happens, Shuri's statement about losing everyone could take on new meaning when she encounters a T'Challa who is familiar yet fundamentally different from her brother.
The MCU has been carefully navigating how to handle T'Challa's absence with respect and emotional honesty. Wakanda Forever was essentially a film about grief, showing how different characters process devastating loss. If Doomsday continues that exploration through Shuri's eyes, it would be consistent with the franchise's willingness to tackle difficult emotional terrain alongside spectacular action.
The Russo Brothers Return and the Doomsday Threat
The release of this teaser continues Marvel's strategic rollout of Avengers: Doomsday content. Anthony and Joe Russo, the directors behind Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Civil War, Infinity War, and Endgame, are returning to helm what promises to be one of the biggest MCU events yet. Endgame remains the second-highest-grossing film of all time with $2.799 billion, so expectations are astronomical.
Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in a controversial casting choice that sees the former Tony Stark actor taking on the MCU's next major villain, remains conspicuously absent from all released teasers. Marvel is clearly saving Doom's full reveal for maximum impact, building anticipation by showing how various hero groups are assembling to face an as-yet-unseen threat.
The confirmed cast is massive, including not just the Wakandans and Fantastic Four but also the Thunderbolts team (Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Lewis Pullman), returning Avengers (Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston, Simu Liu), and an X-Men contingent (Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, Alan Cumming, Channing Tatum, Rebecca Romijn). Most surprisingly, Chris Evans is returning as Steve Rogers/Captain America, not just the Captain America mantle that Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson now carries.
What This Teaser Reveals About Marvel's Strategy
By dedicating an entire teaser to the Wakanda/Talokan/Fantastic Four connection, Marvel is signaling that this relationship will be a significant storyline within Doomsday. The decision to show these specific groups meeting first suggests they may play a crucial role in the larger narrative, perhaps bringing unique resources or knowledge that proves essential in facing Doctor Doom.
Wakanda has always been positioned as the most technologically advanced nation in the MCU, with vibranium-based innovations far beyond what the rest of Earth possesses. Talokan similarly has access to vibranium and technology adapted for underwater environments. The Fantastic Four, particularly Reed Richards, represent scientific genius from a different timeline. Bringing these three groups together creates a think tank of the brightest minds and most advanced resources available.
The teaser's closing caption reinforces this connection: "The Wakandans and The Fantastic Four Will Return In Avengers: Doomsday." Grouping them together in the messaging suggests a partnership that extends beyond a brief meeting in a desert.
The Road to Doomsday and Beyond
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 16-18, 2026 (dates vary by market), followed by Avengers: Secret Wars in December 2027. These back-to-back Avengers films represent Marvel's attempt to recapture the magic of the Infinity Saga's conclusion while pushing the MCU into new multiversal territory.
The inclusion of Wakanda, Talokan, and the Fantastic Four in this teaser demonstrates Marvel's commitment to weaving together storylines from across their recent films. Wakanda Forever dealt with grief and succession. First Steps introduced a new Fantastic Four from an alternate timeline. Now Doomsday brings these threads together, forcing characters who've never met to work as allies against an existential threat.
For fans of the Black Panther franchise, this teaser offers both comfort and concern. Comfort in seeing that Shuri, M'Baku, and even former antagonist Namor are central to this massive team-up story. Concern in recognizing that Shuri is still carrying devastating grief, still processing losses that would break most people. The question is whether Doomsday will offer her some measure of healing or simply pile new trauma on top of old wounds.
Winston Duke's M'Baku ascending to the throne represents a satisfying character arc for a figure who began as a rival to T'Challa, evolved into a loyal ally, and has now become the leader Wakanda needs in this moment. His introduction to Ben Grimm carries weight beyond the surface-level humor because it represents Wakanda's king meeting representatives from another world. M'Baku isn't just Winston Duke's character anymore; he's the leader of one of Earth's most powerful nations, and the MCU is treating that status with appropriate gravitas.
"King M'Baku of Wakanda."
"Ben. Yancy Street between Broome and Grand."
Looking Forward
As we move toward Avengers: Doomsday's December release, this teaser raises as many questions as it answers. How did the Fantastic Four cross from their alternate timeline into the main MCU? What is the full extent of the Wakanda-Talokan alliance? Will Namor's comic book connection to Sue Storm be explored? Can Shuri find peace while still honoring everyone she's lost? What role will M'Baku play as Wakanda's new king in a multiversal conflict?
What's clear is that Marvel is building toward something massive, something that requires the combined strength of heroes from different timelines, different nations, and different walks of life. The fact that former enemies like Wakanda and Talokan are standing together suggests the threat is severe enough to overcome even the deepest grievances.
For Black Panther fans specifically, this teaser offers hope that the franchise's themes and characters will be treated with the respect they deserve in this larger ensemble. Shuri's grief isn't being glossed over. M'Baku's ascension is being acknowledged. The Wakanda-Talokan alliance is being honored. These aren't just characters being used as cameos; they're integral to the story being told.
When Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters this December, it will mark not just another superhero team-up but a culmination of storylines that have been building across multiple franchises. The meeting between M'Baku and Ben Grimm may seem like a small moment in what will surely be a massive film, but it represents something larger: different worlds, different stories, different legacies all converging to face whatever doom awaits.
Wakanda Forever. And now, with the Fantastic Four at their side, perhaps Wakanda's forever just got a little bit stronger.
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About the Author
Kathia Woods is an entertainment journalist and Tomatometer-approved critic with 15 years of experience. She serves as Arts & Entertainment Co-Chair for the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) at the national level and is a voting member of the Critics Choice Association. Follow her entertainment coverage at Cup of Soul Show.