Although it was released a month ago, the hype train around Ryan Coogler's Black Panther hasn't slowed down a bit. The blockbuster has broken all sorts box office records, and is a significant moment in pop culture and film history. While just about every frame of the latest MCU installment has been dissected and discussed, there are a few choice moments that Coogler and the film's editors had to cut out of Black Panther. Fans have been eager to find out about deleted scenes, and one has just gone public. Editor and Ryan Coogler collaborator Michael Shawver revealed one scene had to do with Okoye and W'Kabi. As he tells it,
Hands down the most painful scene to cut was [one] with Danai Gurira and Daniel Kaluuya. Toward the end, after things go bad and Killmonger [Michael B. Jordan] is in control and all that, we're talking about, what are they going to do? What is Wakanda going to become?
It looks like Wakanda's supporting characters were originally a larger part of Black Panther, but some powerful scenes ended up on the cutting room floor. Although given the amount of world building the film's large cast of characters, this type of choice should be expected.
Ryan Coogler had to craft the technologically advanced country of Wakanda for Black Panther, which is a major task. The film had a ton of exposition to get through, including how the country managed to stay off the grid with its supply of Vibranium. As such, Okoye and W'Kabi ended up getting the short end of the stick regarding their plot line.
Truly, the relationship between Okoye and W'Kabi was a lost plot in _Black Panther'_s second and third act. The two characters were at the opposite sides of the conflict for Wakanda's rule, which could have made for a fascinating dynamic. But we never got to see them come to blows, albeit for a very quick exchange as the battle was winding down. While both characters got to shine in regards to their relationship to T'Challa and Killmonger, cinephiles could tell something got lost in the shuffle.
During his conversation with The Wrap, Michael Shawver expanded what made the deleted scene from Black Panther so powerful. It turns out it was the scene's layers, as well as the performances by Walking Dead favorite Danai Gurira and _Get Out'_s Daniel Kaluuya.
Those are two powerhouse actors and it was an incredible scene with so many layers to it --- boyfriend and girlfriend, it was general and her advisor, all those things. That was painful.
This really does sound like an awesome scene, so hopefully it'll be available when Black Panther is released for home and digital purchase. Alas, we'll just have to wait and see how it all shakes down.
Black Panther is still in theaters now, and CinemaBlend will be sure to update fans on all the deleted scenes. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
