With a heavy heart and a fitting tribute to T’Challa and Chadwick Boseman, ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ was released. In the sequel to the 2018 film, Shuri and others mourn the death of T’Challa amidst the growing threat of Namor. The sequel gripped the audience highlighting the grief and mortality concept. With the old cast including Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, and Angela Bassett, there was the inclusion of new members like Dominique Thorne as RiRi Williams.
‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ is creating a lot of buzz with its commercial success. The film has bagged $330 million, worldwide. The audience is curious to see the ode to T’Challa and the fate of Wakanda without him. The film, as mentioned, was already coming to grips with the death of a cast member and the head of Wakanda. There was already a lot of criticism for reviving the franchise without its lead protagonist, but the makers went ahead. However, even with a revised script, Angela Bassett, who plays Queen Ramonda, took objection about the fate of her character.
*SPOILERS AHEAD
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Angela Bassett Protested Against The Death Of Queen Ramonda In ‘ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’
Bassett plays the matriarch to the late King T’Challa and Shuri. But, the actress was skeptical whether she will be cast in the sequel. In an interview with IndieWire, Bassett said, “At the end of [Black Panther] I didn’t know if I was coming back. I certainly hoped I would. I didn’t die”. There was a script ready for the sequel, but the director Ryan Coogler did not go ahead with it in the wake of Chadwick Boseman’s death. But, later, he tweaked the script.
Coogler called Angela and she recalls him telling her “Ramonda now has got to step up. She’s got to be there for Shuri, she’s queen. You’re just a very important place in this movie.” Bassett recalled that she felt scared, but the actress got conscious, and proved her mettle in the sequel.
However, there was an instance of creative conflict that arose between the director and her. It was about Ramonda’s fate when she gets drowned while saving RiRi Williams aka Ironheart.
‘What’s Love Got to Do With It’ actress objected to the plot point initially. She said, “I was like, ‘Ryan, what are you doing? Why? You will rue the day! You will rue the demise of [Ramonda]. People are gonna be so upset.'” Then Coogler, reassured her.
Angela continued, “He was like, ‘Angela, I know, I know, but look, to die is not really to die in this world. It doesn’t really have to mean that.'” If we look at MCU’s history, there have been resuscitation of certain characters. Angela was positive that “All kinds of crazy things happen”.
The Actress Called Working With Ryan A “Collaborative” Process
It was a mammoth responsibility on Ryan Coogler’s shoulders to deliver this sequel. Chadwick’s death affected the director, too. He confessed that he was on the verge of quitting filmmaking. But, it was the faith of the cast and crew that drove him to give a respectful conclusion to T’Challa’s story and Chadwick Boseman.
In the same interview, Bassett elaborated on how thankful she is to Ryan for guiding not only her but the entire cast. She said, “He’s extremely clear on the story and what he’s doing, but the way he carries himself around the cast and the crew. It’s so collaborative. He’s so self-effacing.”
Talking more about how he includes his actors in the process, the actress explained,“That impostor syndrome that we’re feeling or whatever, he will just say it out loud. ‘I don’t know about these words. Are you OK with them?’ And he really invites you to have your say, be a part, which is wonderful. He doesn’t straightjacket you.”
Also Read: ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’: What Will Be The Future Of Wakanda?
