The first time MCU fans met Danai Gurira's Okoye was in the first Black Panther movie in 2018. Introduced as one of the Dora Milaje, Okoye was shown as a force to be reckoned with as she fulfilled her duty to protect Wakanda and the royal family. This largely carries over into Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but after a recruitment mission with Shuri goes awry, Okoye is stripped of her title and her purpose lands on shaky ground.
After Shuri and Riri were kidnapped by a small group of Talokanil, Queen Ramonda 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.
COLLIDER VIDEO OF THE DAY "And then there's another key one of mine, which is really my character saying bye to Shuri and she just catches her in Haiti unexpectedly, and Shuri's like, 'Are you going back to the Dora?' and my character says no. And she said, 'Where are you going to go,' and I was like wherever my blue suit takes me, and she just walks off. And they have the beautiful moment, and then she just walks off.
As of now, Marvel hasn't shared any word on whether we'll see a third Black Panther movie or any related solo features or shows beyond a continuation of Riri's story in Ironheart. Regardless, the superhero giant has several movies planned through 2026 that keep the door open, even if only slightly, for Okoye's return down the line.