Hes going to need that, too.
Their personal motivations are what leads them forward.
Although … She leans forward to look at the other women.
Koury Angelo for EW
We do lookpretty damn fly, I must say!
They think of us not just as Queen but QueenMother.
Mother is nurturer and the first teacher.
That position is embraced.
Shes not someone who is off to the side.
It doesnt matter if shes a literal mother or not, an older woman is considered with respect.
[She was born in Iowa, but grew up in Zimbabwe.]
Thats something Wakanda brought to the forefront that was beautiful.
Is part of it also the lore of Wakanda?
They got to go through their full evolution.
Other countries on the continent were very interrupted and traumatized through colonization.
Wakanda didnt have that disruption.
It was such an advanced nation, it actually allowed for evolution of gender roles.
Shes not controlled by anyone.
Shes motivated by whats in her soul and what she wants to do.
The same goes for your character, Shuri.
Hes like, No, this is your domain!
Do a great job and confirm Im protected.
And I will respect that.
Life for women in Wakanda is beautiful.
To me it was reflective of the fact that sexism is learned.
Thats the value of a story like this, right?
Its a fantasy country and an imaginary world, but its nice to imagine things can be better.
Why not?GURIRA:Why not!
It really does make you say, Why Not?
Ramonda is queen of Wakanda, but now she is widowed.
Her son is taking the throne.
What would you say makes her powerful?
Her son is becoming king.
Shes visionary in that she perhaps sees what he will become more clearly than he can.
I think in another time and another place she was a warrior as well.
Shes a support for these women around her and all that they are truly capable of being and doing.
That is truly a mothers power, isnt it?
[Bassett gets called to leave early for work on Foxs9-1-1series and departs the group.]
BASSETT:I love you.
[Laughter]WRIGHT:Shes a relatable character to other young girls with that brother sister vibe.
Not only does he respect Shuri, but all the women.
He holds his own as a man and a king, but he respects everyone and what theyre doing.
Same question for each of you that I asked Angela.
What is it about your character that makes her a superhero?WRIGHT:Ill go first.
What makes Shuri a superhero is not the physical side.
Superheroes are usually very strong or masculine.
Theyve got some muscles.
But I think what makes Shuri a superhero is the way she thinks.
Her mind is a weapon.
What surprised you about her as you found the character?
Whats below the surface?WRIGHT:When I read the comic books, shes serious all the time.
With the script they wanted her to be smart, but she isso much fun.
She picks on her brother, and she makes jokes even if it may not be a joke.
[Laughs] Shes witty and sharp.
Always got something fiery to say.NYONGO:What I love about Nakia is shes worldly.
She speaks many languages.
And shes a chameleon in a sense.
I love that tension in her.
I love her relationship with TChalla.
[Laughs] Thats the Facebook status.
She makes him stronger.
But shes also sort of his Kryptonite, to steal a reference from another universe.
It takes the …NYONGO:… the edge off.
Hes just a guy.
The Dora are all about collective consciousness, moving in unison as one.
Nakia is more of a rebel.
More independent.NYONGO:[Nodding] A lone wolf.
Shes part of the border tribe, and very connected to the idea of nation protection.
I imagine her as avery focused12-year-old.
She was once that little girl.
She has been a very one-track-minded person.
She is a very strong traditionalist.
She believes in holding the country together.
Its a great time to be a female warrior.
People decide things based on lack.
You dont provide and then you say people dont want things.
But they didnt have options on the table, so how can you really make that assessment?
I actually think its the opposite.
It was thenlearnedthroughWonder Woman,which was no surprise to most women.
We were all ready to flock out to that.
Thats what I wondered.
Maybe because Ive been doingThe Walking Dead, and thats a gender-neutral world.
… Im always wondering, what is this representation where womenalwaysneed to be saved by men?
What is that about?Thatsgatekeepers deciding that that is what we need to see.
And its time to change that.just.
What we see happening in this moment is pivotal.
We cannot assess it yet.
We have to keep going.
And I was surprised.GURIRA:This is a movie so full of relevant arguments.
Were not short of those.
The audience cant sit there andonlyroot for Black Panther.
Dont worry, I promise to take out the spoilers and leave it a little vague.
Im on the countrys side.
I know some people.WRIGHT:It takes alittlemore than that.
Black Pantheropens in theaters next Friday.
