Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to pay tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman while also placing the spotlight on the African nation.
Directed by Ryan Coogler, the sequel will showcase the return of franchise mainstays like Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, and Angela Bassett. Aside from the returning favorites, Wakanda Forever will reportedly feature the MCU debut of Namor, who will be played by Tenoch Huerta, and Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams before making her way to Disney+.
Production is currently ongoing for the sequel, but plot details are still being kept under wraps. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige already confirmed that T'Challa will not be recast in the film, leaving everyone to wonder how Wakanda Forever will honor the MCU veteran.
Bassett previously praised Feige and Coogler for their planned direction for the film, saying that both of them are "committed" to telling the best story that they can tell.
Now, a new interview with the actress offered more insight into the sequel's mysterious direction.
Angela Bassett Reacts to Letitia Wright's Set Injury
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actress Angela Bassett, who plays Ramonda, sat down with Entertainment Tonight to talk about the upcoming MCU sequel.
When asked if her spirit settled when she first read Wakanda Forever's script, Bassett answered with a resounding "yes," citing the fact that the sequel still has Black Panther director Ryan Coogler and scriptwriter Joe Robert Cole in the mix:
"Yes. You know, we still have Ryan [Coogler] and Joe Robert Cole, who wrote Black Panther one, so the two of them, these men, these brothers, they're going to bring it."
The veteran actress continued by saying that the pair loved what they started in the first film, promising fans that "they're going to do this one well:"
"They love Black Panther, they love what they started. As they say, 'Finish the way you started.' They started great and they're going to do this one well as well."
Meanwhile, Bassett also addressed Letitia Wright's on-set injury, assuring fans that the Wakandan princess is doing fine and "ready to go:"
"She had a little bit of a fall, but it's not too bad. You know, anything like that will shake you up, but she's just a little, slight, little petite thing. But she is fine and ready to go."
For context, it was previously reported that Wright suffered minor injuries after performing a stunt while filming the sequel in Boston.
Angela Bassett's Return as Queen Ramonda
Bassett's latest comments suggest that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is in good hands, and this should further boost the hype for the sequel.
This isn't the first time that Bassett addressed the direction of the Black Panther sequel. In a previous interview, the Marvel actress responded to the fan concerns about the film by pointing out Ryan Coogler's involvement, saying that the director is the film's "fearless, wonderful, visionary leader."
Creating a sequel without Chadwick Boseman is not easy, but Coogler's veteran leadership appears to have steered the wheel of the ship in the right direction, as evidenced by Bassett's strong comments.
On a separate note, Bassett's update about Letitia Wright's injury is a promising one. It's also worth noting that the Shuri actress was released from the hospital on the same day, further cementing the idea that the mishap was minor.
At this stage, all signs point to Wakanda Forever being an emotional ride not just for the audience but also for the cast and crew.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to premiere in theaters on July 8, 2022.
