It's not often that comic book fans agree, but if there's one thing we can surely all get on board with, it's the fact Angela Bassett deserves an Oscar nomination for her work in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Delivering a chill-inducing performance as Queen Ramonda, the actress has an incredible arc in the sequel that culminated with her dying after saving the young Riri Williams. There were those, however, who were a little disappointed to see Wakanda's Queen only meet her grandson, Toussaint, in passing when she visits Nakia in Haiti.
While Nakia tells Shuri in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever's mid-credits scene that her mother did meet T'Challa's son, it's unclear whether she's talking about that scene in the school or a moment we didn't get to see.
Talking to Variety, Bassett confirmed Marvel Studios cut a scene featuring her and Toussaint actor Divine Love Konadu-Sun.
"I filmed a scene. I did, but you know - cutting room, readjusting and reshaping it. What does Ramonda say? Oh, ‘Shuri, there’s something that I need to tell you,'" she recalls. "I went to Haiti, of course. I met him, I was introduced to him...but it wound up on the cutting room floor."
Bassett would go on to say that it was cut "to make it a surprise for the audience and to Shuri. It was the right way to go. Perfect to go about it." The actress also revealed that Nakia introduced Ramonda to the boy as his "Nanna." Hopefully, this is included on the Blu-ray!
As for what it was like to learn about Ramonda's death, Bassett admits: "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."
While the Queen's death was incredibly important in Shuri's journey, we can't help but feel Marvel Studios made a mistake on this occasion. There was surely more story to tell with Ramonda, and the MCU has now bid a premature farewell to one of its greatest talents.
What do you guys think?