Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will introduce the legendary LGBTQ+ hero Aneka. A former leader of the Dora Milaje – the team of elite warrior women sworn to protect Wakanda – Aneka has been romantically linked in the comics with Florence Kasumba’s recurring character Ayo.
Not including her upcoming appearance in the sequel, Ayo has starred in four MCU projects to date: Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
It has been confirmed that Michaela Coel, who was announced for Black Panther 2 last year, will play Aneka. The actress is best known for her creating and starring in the E4 comedy Chewing Gum and the HBO drama I May Destroy You.
For the universally acclaimed latter, Coel became the first Black woman to win the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special.