'Black Panther' release date, news: Angela Bassett to play T'Challa's mother
Director Ryan Coogler's cast for "Black Panther" continues to be comprised of impressive talents as the latest development adds Angela Bassett as T'Challa's mother, Ramonda.
News broke this week that the 58-year-old veteran actress is boarding the Marvel ship via Chadwick Boseman's first standalone film since taking on the superhero alter ego. Bassett is set to play T'Challa's mother and since the main backdrop of the film will be in his home region of Wakanda, it only makes sense that his mother will also pop up in the story.
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe know that the former prince was thrust into taking the mantle of Black Panther as well as leading the advanced nation after his father, T'Chaka (John Kani), became one of the casualties in Helmut Zemo's (Daniel Brühl) vendetta against the Avengers in "Captain America: Civil War."
It will be interesting to find out how Ramonda will take the sudden passing of her husband as well as to see her dynamic with her son. It is no secret that Bassett packs some emotional punch but can also do real fight sequences which make her a perfect choice for the character in case the narrative asks her to do both.
Prior to this casting, another top-notch actor in Forrest Whitaker had been tapped to play Zuri in the movie. His character is an elder statesman of Wakanda. Since the movie will be treading along political lines with T'Challa having to prove himself in his new role, it can be expected that Whitaker's role will provide some kind of wisdom to the new king.
During this year's San Diego Comic-Con, Lupita Nyong'o who had joined the film earlier hinted on the possible storyline that the movie will tackle.
"The story is that the Black Panther's leadership is really threatened by two foes who come together, and so Black Panther gets the help of the C.I.A. and the Dora Milaje to try and defeat the enemy," she told Collider.
Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Florence Kasumba, Winston Duke and Daniel Kaluuya round up the cast.
"Black Panther" hits theaters on Feb. 16, 2018.
