MCU viewers first encountered Danai Gurira’s Okoye in the first Black Panther film, released in 2018. Okoye was introduced as a member of the Dora Milaje and quickly established herself as a formidable force as she carried out her responsibility to defend Wakanda and the royal family. This basically continues in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, although Okoye loses her title and her objective is put in jeopardy after a recruitment mission with Shuri (Letitia Wright) goes wrong.
After Shuri and Riri (Dominque Thorne) were kidnapped by a small group of Talokanil, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) was furious at Okoye. Believing Okoye was then unfit to uphold her duties, the queen removed Okoye from the Dora, a devastating consequence for the warrior. Eventually, Okoye continues to find ways to help. In the final battle, she even dons a new suit made by Shuri, which she was initially extremely resistant to wearing. In an interview with Deadline, Gurira expands on Okoye’s future after the credits roll, sharing what some of her hopes are for the character. She shares that during a press event at the DGA, director Ryan Coogler and producer Nate Moore had discussed scenes left out from the final product, including one centered on Okoye:
