Black Panther star Angela Bassett was “mortified” by her Wakanda Forever storyline

Beware SPOILERS ahead for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Angela Bassett, who played Queen Ramonda in the two Black Panther movies, delivered an Oscar-worthy performance in Wakanda Forever. The Queen Mother of Wakanda was a warrior until her last breath, literally, as she died saving Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams after Namor flooded the palace.

It was a stirring end, but Bassett was not happy with her character’s fate. In an interview with Variety, the What’s Love Got to Do With It actress talked about the death of Ramonda and how she felt about it first time reading the script.

"I was not happy about that. I was not pleased. I was so shocked. I was… just mortified. You know, it’s like they gave you the greatest gift, and they snatched it away. Part of me was like, ‘Okay, don’t say anything, be strong.’ Then the other part of me was like… ‘I just got to let him know. That I don’t like this at all — and why? — and don’t do this.’ The love for Ramonda was so real and heartfelt, but you know — they always kill the heart and soul."

The movie, like its predecessor, was written and directed by Ryan Coogler. Joe Robert Cole served as cowriter. If Bassett talked to anybody, it was them.

Despite Bassett’s discontent, Ramonda’s death was a pivotal moment for the movie, as Letitia Wright’s Shuri finally faced her fears and donned the Black Panther suit after watching her mother die.

Angela Bassett reveals the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever scene that was cut

Coogler kept a surprise reveal up his sleeves for the post-credit scene of Black Panther 2. In a sequence that moved many a Marvel fan to tears, Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong’o, introduced Shuri to T’Challa’s son. However, Coogler initially had a different introduction for the young prince in mind. Angela Bassett revealed that she shot a scene with Divine Love Konadu-Sun, the actor who played Toussaint/T’Challa Junior.

Bassett said that she went to Haiti to film a scene where Ramonda meets her grandson, but it got cut in post-production. She also disclosed that Nakia introduced the Queen to Toussaint as “Nanna” in the deleted scene.

Bassett added that she believes “it was the right way to go” to cut the scene and keep the reveal for after the credits, “to make it a surprise for the audience and to Shuri.”

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