BLACK PANTHER: Ryan Coogler Reveals What Happened To Killmonger's Off-Screen Mother

BLACK PANTHER: Ryan Coogler Reveals What Happened To Killmonger's Off-Screen Mother

Killmonger already had a sad childhood that put him on the path to becoming Black Panther's villain. Now, director Ryan Coogler has revealed that it was even more tragic, sharing the fate of Erik's mom...

By HeavyMetal4Life - May 04, 2018 04:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Black Panther
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) became one of the MCU's greatest villains in this year's Black Panther, partially because of the character's tragic childhood that added depth. However, director Ryan Coogler has revealed in commentary for the Black Panther Blu-ray that Erik's childhood was even sadder than we realized.

As fans may remember, N'Jobu (Sterling K. Brown) was planning to arm oppressed people around the world with vibranium he stole from Wakanda (and even told Ulysses Klaue how to enter the country). In the flashback scene at the beginning of the film, N'Jobu was formulating a plan with a young Zuri on how to break his love out of prison. This woman, who we never see, is the reason N'Jobu has decided to betray Wakanda and help others.

However, before N'Jobu can enact the plan, T'Chaka, his brother and the King of Wakanda, arrives at his apartment in Oakland, asking about the stolen vibranium and Klaue. When N'Jobu pulls his gun on Zuri, who is revealed to be a spy for T'Chaka, the king kills his brother and leaves his body there, thus putting Erik on the path to becoming Killmonger.

Coogler revealed that Erik's off-screen mother passed away in prison since N'Jobu died before he could break her out:

The idea was when you see those guys talking over the paperwork in the beginning of the film, they're talking about a way to break her out of jail. The idea was they never got her out, and she passed away in prison, so Killmonger didn't come up with a mom either.

This revelation further cements the importance of this flashback sequence in the film, which Coogler describes as the most important moment in Black Panther. It comes as no surprise that coming across his father's body and losing his mother in prison would have led Erik to become Killmonger and both seek revenge and try to fulfill his father's aspirations. 

What do you think of what Coogler shared regarding the fate of Erik's mother in the beginning of Black Panther? Be sure to share your thoughts in the usual spot below!
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LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 5/4/2018, 4:56 PM
This should have been left in the movie......
QuietStorm
QuietStorm - 5/4/2018, 5:03 PM
This movie gets better with age.
rondz123
rondz123 - 5/4/2018, 5:04 PM
BEST MCU VILLAIN 100%
Typobutcorrect
Typobutcorrect - 5/4/2018, 5:04 PM
Man...some heartbreaking sh*t...

Top 3 MCU film...Top 2 MCU villain
MultiMedia996
MultiMedia996 - 5/4/2018, 5:05 PM
From what I hear Killmonger is basically black Hitler (Sargon compared his plan to something Richard Spencer would come up with)

It feels like him not having his dad around is some kind of commentary on the fact that a lot of black kids growing up often don't have their dads around and their parents aren't often married.
Menks123
Menks123 - 5/4/2018, 5:08 PM
Would have loved to see this in the film, or mentioned a little more.

Such an incredible movie, and can't wait to watch it over and over.
Forthas
Forthas - 5/4/2018, 5:11 PM
Would have made a complex villain even more multi dimensional if they left this in the movie. Great storytelling...even off screen!
LukeCage2155
LukeCage2155 - 5/4/2018, 5:17 PM
Killmonger great villain.
TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 5/4/2018, 5:18 PM
I actually liked that his mother was a mystery. But this does make things more weighty.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 5/4/2018, 5:38 PM
@TheRationalNerd - Damn wish they left this in. I always assumed she was probably a radical of some kind. Figure she had a hand in RADICALIZING N'Jobu.
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