Angela Bassett is officially the new queen of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Oscar and Emmy-nominated American Horror Story actress is the latest huge star to join the cast of Marvel's Black Panther, the upcoming adventure movie from director Ryan Coogler.
Bassett has been cast in the hugely important role as Wakandan prince T'Challa's (Chadwick Boseman) mother Ramonda, known as The Queen Mother of the fictional African nation.
A wise woman who has experienced trauma throughout her life, Ramonda's guidance to the prince will prove pivotal as he assumes the throne.
Bassett is no stranger to the superhero genre, having played the shady government agent Amanda Waller in DC Comics' panned Green Lantern movie.
Black Panther is already groundbreaking for being the very first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie to feature a majority black cast.
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The incredible cast includes Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira as Wakanda's royal bodyguards, Michael B. Jordan as the evil Erik Killmonger and Star Wars actor Forest Whitaker as the "elder statesman" known as Zuri.
In a recent interview with Digital Spy, Chadwick Boseman spoke of the "historic" privilege of starring in the first Marvel movie led by black superhero.
"I think I felt [the excitement] when we were on the stage together at Comic-Con when all the other actors came out, and [director Ryan Coogler] was there, and [Marvel Studios president Kevin] Feige was there. I felt it at that moment," he told us.
"But on a day-to-day basis I can't think about how big it is. I have to think about what I have to do today to be ready for the moment when the cameras roll. And when the camera rolls, I'm just thinking about the scene I'm doing.
"I'm not thinking about what I'm going to do tomorrow. I have to take it one step at a time. It's just another movie, is the answer."
Black Panther will be released on February 9, 2018 in the UK and February 16, 2018 in the US.
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Justin is a freelance entertainment journalist and writer. He first joined Digital Spy as a freelance entertainment reporter in 2010 and also worked as a sub-editor for the brand, serving as Night News Editor from 2016 to 2024. Over more than a decade, Justin has covered numerous major entertainment events from the US and has interviewed a wide-ranging group of public figures, from comedian Steve Coogan to icons from the Star Trek universe, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and reality stars from numerous Real Housewives cities and the Below Deck franchise. Justin has also been on the ground to cover major pop culture events like the Star Wars Celebration and the D23 Expo. He's written for titles across the Hearst network, plus the likes of CBR and Us Weekly.
