Black Panther 2 Star Talks Possible MCU Return After Shocking Death

Spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever below!Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Angela Bassett discusses her possible return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe following her character’s shocking death. Bassett stars as Queen Ramonda, the interim ruler of the Kingdom of Wakanda following the untimely death of her son, King T’Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). Following an unauthorized incursion into his undersea city of Talokan that left several of its citizens dead, Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and his forces attack the Wakandan capital city in retaliation. Although she successfully saves Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) from certain death, Ramonda tragically drowns.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Bassett discusses Ramonda’s possible MCU return after her character was killed in Namor’s Wakanda attack. While talking about the Queen’s tragic death, Deadline acknowledges that a Marvel character’s death does not always mean they are gone from the massive shared universe. In response, Bassett reveals that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever writer and director, Ryan Coogler, told her the very same thing. Read the full interview exchange below:

Deadline: I was surprised, I must say, that we saw the death, we think, of Queen [Ramonda]. But I know this is a Marvel movie. And I know the end isn’t always the end.

Bassett: That’s what Ryan said to me!

Deadline: Really? Okay, because —

Bassett: That’s what he said! Should I believe it?

Deadline: I — Yes! We believe that you’re coming back.

Bassett: Oh, we must. Now, I don’t want to set myself up and be disappointed.

Deadline: But that is possible in this world…in the MCU, for sure. Would you like to?

Bassett: I would love to. I would love to.

How Can Queen Ramonda Return?

Ramonda’s death in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was a devastating blow to the country after they had just recently lost their beloved king T’Challa. With astute observation, unmatched wit, and natural leadership, the Queen guided her people through a period of mourning and fear. Bassett has received nothing but praise for her performance, and with the actor sharing Coogler’s vague comments, there is hope that Ramonda will return to the MCU.

Many characters within Marvel’s vast shared universe have seen their demise to only have them return later in one way or another. Phil Couslon (Clark Gregg) was killed off in the very first Avengers film, only to have the character resurrected in the Agent’s of S.H.I.E.L.D. television series and return in Captain Marvel. Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) was killed by Thanos to obtain the Soul Stone from the Red Skull (another revived character), only to have an alternate version appear in Avengers: Endgame and feature in the highly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has died and been resurrected numerous times over the course of long-running franchise. The MCU has proven that not only can killed-off characters return, they can continue to be a part of the shared universe for a significant amount of time.

However, bringing Ramonda back may minimize her sacrifice in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. If Bassett is to return in some form within the main MCU continuity, it will likely occur within Black Panther 3, when Shuri (Letitia Wright) inevitably returns to the Ancestral Plane. There, T’Challa saw his deceased father, Killmonger was reunited with his father, N’Jobu (Sterling K. Brown), and Shuri had an intense Killmonger encountr. After she was devastated not seeing her brother one last time, Black Panther 3 will likely give Shuri a chance to say a proper farewell to her mother.