Zuri is a supporting character in the Marvel Studios film Black Panther. Based on the character from Marvel Comics, he is an advisor and close friend to T'Chaka and later his son T'Challa. He was portrayed by Forest Whitaker.
History[]
Zuri served as a trusted advisor and confidant to T'Chaka, the King of Wakanda. He was also a member of the War Dogs, Wakanda's network of spies. Between the late 1980's and early 1990's, he went undercover in the United States of America under the alias "James" where he spied on fellow War Dog and Prince of Wakanda, N'Jobu. In 1992, N'Jobu had obtained a supply of vibranium from the arms dealer Ulysses Klaue and was planning on using it to produce weapons which he would then provide to oppressed African-American citizens. While "James" appeared supportive of N'Jobu's aims, he had informed T'Chaka of his brother's treachery. T'Chaka met with his brother for the last time and told him he would be returning home to answer for his crimes. Enraged by Zuri's betrayal, N'Jobu attempted to shoot him, but T'Chaka killed him first. T'Chaka and Zuri then returned to Wakanda, vowing never to speak of this incident. However, they had left behind N'Jobu's son Erik, who would one day come to Wakanda to avenge his father and finish what he had started.
In 2016, a week after T'Chaka's death at the hands of Helmut Zemo, T'Challa was crowned as the new King of Wakanda. Zuri presided over the coronation and the ritual combat that allowed for members of each of Wakanda's five tribes to challenge the new king for the throne. T'Challa fought the challenger M'Baku and won, without the power of the Black Panther, as was dictated by Wakandan tradition.
However, T'Challa's rule would face yet another challenge not long after the coronation. After failing to capture Klaue in South Korea, T'Challa faced opposition in the form of Erik Stevens, the son of N'Jobu, who came to Wakanda with Klaue's body in tow. Proving his Wakandan identity to the royal family, he challenged T'Challa for the throne. T'Challa spoke with Zuri and questioned him about Erik's claims, to which Zuri shamefully admitted his part in the events that led to this moment. They agreed that Erik had a legitimate claim, and so they prepared once again for the ritual of succession.
Death[]
Zuri once more presided over the duel at Warrior Falls, feeding T'Challa the serum that removed his Black Panther powers and letting him fight Killmonger on fair terms. Fueled by rage and bloodlust, Killmonger beat T'Challa within an inch of his life and was prepared to kill him. Zuri, unable to bear the guilt he felt over N'Jobu's death and unwilling to let T'Challa die, stepped in and offered his own life to Killmonger. Killmonger simply decided to kill both him and T'Challa, using his spear to stab Zuri in the heart before he threw T'Challa off the cliff.