Every movie ends up with deleted scenes. Whether it doesn’t work out as intended or it just doesn’t fit into the overall story correctly, there are bound to be scenes that don’t make it to the final cut of a movie. Black Panther is no exception. If we’re lucky, those scenes will be released online or with the film’s release on Blu-Ray/DVD.
Yesterday, USA Today shared and exclusive deleted scene from Black Panther between W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya), former head of security of Wakanda’s Border Tribe, and Okoye (Danai Gurira), general of the Dora Milaje. It shows the two having a heated argument following the death of T’Challa at the hands of Killmonger.
Director Ryan Coogler introduces the video by saying how this was an important scene that helped establish Okoye and W’Kabi’s relationship as a married couple, but ultimately did not fit into the film. As such, the only hint we get to their relationship is in the final battle. Okoye stops W’Kabi from ramming into M’Baku of the Jibari Tribe by stepping in front of him, and the rhino affectionately licks her. She tells W’Kabi to lay down his weapon, and when he refuses, she says she would rather kill her love than risk Wakanda’s safety. That scene becomes even more poignant now that we know they full extent of their relationship. In the deleted scene we see them fighting about the future of Wakanda even here. W’Kabi would have the country hide no more and become conquerors, whereas Okoye does not want their children to have such a future.
