Angela Bassett says 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' scene featuring Queen Ramonda and major new character was cut
- Angela Bassett said Queen Ramonda originally met T'Challa's son in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."
- The star said that cutting the scene "was the right way to go."
Director Ryan Coogler made "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" a special experience for audiences after Chadwick Boseman's tragic death in 2020, as T'Challa's family grapple with the king's passing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But while Shuri (Letitia Wright) grieves her brother, she later learns in the mid-credits scene that T'Challa secretly had a son with Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), called Toussaint (Divine Love Konadu-Sun).
Costar Angela Bassett recently told Variety's "Awards Circuit" podcast that she filmed a scene in which Ramonda meets Toussaint, with Nakia introducing her as his "Nanna," and it was meant to show up much earlier on in the film. Bassett loved working with Konadu-Sun on the short scene, calling him "a precious little angel."
She said: "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.'"
Fans will remember that Ramonda never gets to finish her sentence because that's when Namor (Tenoch Huerta) starts his assault on Wakanda.
Bassett said: "I went to Haiti, of course. I met him, I was introduced to him… but it wound up on the cutting room floor."
Bassett explained that the scene was left out "to make it a surprise for the audience and to Shuri" when T'Challa's son is revealed at the end of the movie.
Considering the film starts with T'Challa's death, it's a powerful choice to bookend that by introducing his son in the final moments.
Bassett called the move "the right way to go. Perfect to go about it."
Bassett also touched on Ramonda's death in the sequel, noting that she was upset with the decision to kill off the queen.
She said: "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."
The star also debated whether to voice her concerns about the decision to Coogler, and she ultimately decided to tell him.
Bassett said: "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."