In a historic move, Angela Bassett has become the first Marvel performer to receive an Oscar nomination. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Ramonda in the blockbuster sequel. This marks the first time that a performance from a Marvel Cinematic Universe title has appeared in any of the Oscars’ four acting categories.
Though Black Panther: Wakanda Forever didn’t receive a Best Picture nomination, it still earned five nods overall on nominations morning, including Best Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Visual Effects, and for Rihanna’s original soundtrack song “Lift Me Up.”
This isn’t the first time that Marvel films have received recognition at the Oscars, but it is a significant achievement for the studio. Rival studio DC Films has had performers nominated in acting categories before, with Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix winning Oscars for playing the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) and Joker (2019), respectively. Matt Reeves’ latest installment in the DC series, The Batman, also received nominations in Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects for the 2023 Oscars.
The 95th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will take place on Sunday, March 12th at 8 p.m. and it is expected that Angela Bassett’s performance as Queen Ramonda will be one of the highlights of the night. This nomination is a testament to her talent and the impact her portrayal of the strong and powerful Wakanda Queen had on audiences and critics alike. The nomination also represents a significant step for Marvel and the representation of Black women in Hollywood and the film industry.
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Joseph Omoniyi
