'I think the short answer is yes,' he explained. However, he remained somewhat cagey about the exact details.
When pressed in a phone interview by ScreenCrush, Cole seemed to at least confirm the idea of an on-screen gay relationship being thrown around. Unfortunately, this scene never made it to the final cut of the film. Eventually, she says, appreciatively and appraisingly, ‘You look good.’ Ayo responds in kind. According to the description, 'Okoye eyes Ayo flirtatiously for a long time as the camera pans in on them. Last April, details of a scene featuring Danai Gurira’s Okoye and Florence Kasumba’s Ayo - two members of T'Challa's security force known as the Dora Milaje - were reported on by Vanity Fair. RELATED: Black Panther’s TV Promos Show a Change in Superhero Marketing
However, according to screenwriter Joe Robert Cole, a chance to inject even more diversity into Black Panther in the form of an on-screen gay relationship, although discussed, was ultimately left on the cutting room floor.
Early reviews for Marvel Studios' Black Pantherhave praised the upcoming blockbuster for shining the spotlight on not just African culture but the film's large female cast, both of which signify a major step forward in terms of representation in superhero films.
