Even if it didn’t stand a chance of being the biggest film at the 2018 box office, Black Panther would probably get a sequel. But since the film is creeping towards a billion worldwide, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige has no hesitation acknowledging that there will be a Black Panther 2, and that they’re already kicking around ideas for what it could be.

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Image via Marvel Studios

Speaking to EW about the future of Marvel Studios, Feige says that, as usual when they’re working on a movies, ideas start formulating about the next chapter:

Nothing specific to reveal, other than to say we absolutely will do that. One of the favorite pastimes at Marvel Studios is sitting around on a Part One and talking and dreaming about what we would do in a Part Two. There have been plenty of those conversations as we were putting together the first Black Panther. We have ideas and a pretty solid direction on where we want to head with the second one.

Note that co-writer/director Ryan Coogler hasn’t officially signed on to direct the sequel, which will be interesting to see if his idea for a sequel is in line with what Marvel wants (or if that "solid direction" is something Coogler himself provided in developing the first movie). Presumably, Coogler, should he return, would be given more freedom in the same way that Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 has even more of James Gunn’s personality than the raucous first film.

As for where the sequel could go, we don’t know how things will change post-Infinity War. In the interview, Feige says Wakanda will be an “anchor point” similar to Asgard, and I think fans would be pretty bummed if Wakanda got totally destroyed. “Wakanda for a Few Months,” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as “Wakanda Forever.” Personally, I’m interesting to see more of the political side of Black Panther, especially as T’Challa has to wrestle with what it means to open your borders.

Black Panther will next be seen in Avengers: Infinity War, which opens April 27th. For more on Black Panther, click on the links below:

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Image via Marvel Studios
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Image via Marvel Studios
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Image via Marvel Studios