See Black Panther 2's Lupita Nyong’o Getting Back Into Superhero Shape As The Movie Starts Filming

Nakia in Black Panther's final battle

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is greatly expanding at the moment, with new TV and film releases in addition to the future projects that are currently in the works. Chief among them is Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will continue the narrative of the titular country while also paying tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. And now you can see Nakia actress getting back into superhero shape as the sequel starts filming.

Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o made her Marvel debut playing Nakia in Black Panther, and fans have been eager to see her return to the big screen after being noticeably absent from the events of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. It looks like Nakia will be back kicking ass and taking names, as Nyong’o has been hard at work getting into shape. Case in point below.

A photo posted by on

She might not be a member of the Dora Milaje, but Nakia is known for being capable on the battlefield. And it looks like Lupita Nyong'o is ready to dive back into the action for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, getting into shape with a variety of workouts. That includes making the world her own personal gym, and working on some stairs out in the wild.

Marvel fans can re-watch Wakanda's time in the MCU on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

The above video comes to us from Lupita Nyong'o's personal Instagram page, where the 38 year-old actress has been sharing her prep ahead of filming Black Panther 2. While the cast is still very much mourning the loss of Chadwick Boseman, Ryan Coogler and the cast seem committed to continuing the story they began. And that includes getting ripped ahead of suiting back up and putting their body through the grueling action sequences.

Indeed, it looks like Lupita Nyong'o has enjoyed working out outdoors. Aside from using stairs as her own personal stair master, she also posted images working out with free weights while getting some fresh air. The proof is in the pudding, check out Nyongo'o's post below.

A photo posted by on

Aside from getting in shape for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, it's clear that Lupita Nyong'o is a proponent of staying active and exercising. In her post above she's encouraging her whopping 9 million followers to also stay active. As her hashtag reads, exercise can be fun... even if you have to smile to trick your body into believing it.

Of course, Lupita Nyong'o can't have every single workout take place outside in some fresh air. She also seemingly uses a home gym, which should allow for a bigger variety of exercises and weights. You can check out yet another post from the Black Panther actress, further proving how ready she is for Wakanda Forever.

A photo posted by on

Of course, the biggest questions fans have about Black Panther 2 is exactly how the story will continue without Chadwick Boseman and his protagonist T'Challa. Ryan Coogler re-worked the story to honor the late actor, calling it the most difficult task of his professional life. The title Wakanda Forever seems to indicate that we'll dive deeper into the fictional country's lore, no doubt including way more action for Lupita Nyongo'o's character Nakia.

Personally I'm especially curious about exactly who will rule Wakanda and take on the mantle of the Black Panther. There's a number of possible choices including Shuri, Okoye, and M'Baku. But could Nakia's name also be in the mix? Only time will tell.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is currently expected to arrive in theaters on July 8th, 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Corey Chichizola
Movies Editor

Corey was born and raised in New Jersey. Graduated with degrees theater and literature from Ramapo College of New Jersey. After working in administrative theater for a year in New York, he started as the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend. He's since been able to work himself up to reviews, phoners, and press junkets-- and is now able to appear on camera with some of his favorite actors... just not as he would have predicted as a kid. He's particularly proud of covering horror franchises like Scream and Halloween, as well as movie musicals like West Side Story. Favorite interviews include Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Jamie Lee Curtis, and more.