In the comics, Bast was one of the eldest of the Ennead. Dating as far back as 10,000 B.C., Bast was worshiped by the Wakandan tribes and made Bashenga her first avatar. In modern times, Bast would grant the power of the Panther God to others she deemed worthy. For instance, she took away T'Challa's powers and gave them to another man from the African nation of Azania. Bast meant this as a test for T'Challa because he failed in providing aid to the people of Azania. In another instance, when T'Challa was severely injured, Shuri attempted to become the new Black Panther. Bast denied her due to Shuri's jealousy of her brother T'Challa, and her overzealous ambition for power. After humbling herself and training more, Shuri was deemed worthy by Bast to receive the power of the Panther God. One of the most notable decisions by Bast was when she decided to allow Shuri to rule the living in Wakanda and granted T'Challa powers to rule as the King of the Dead. If the comics are any indication of the direction of the MCU, Bast could play an active role in the affairs of humanity in the foreseeable future.

Moon Knight Can Explain Bast's Black Panther Past

Moon Knight did not explicitly mention Bast, but episode 3 gave some hints about the Panther God's past. Moon Knight has displayed the gods to temporarily possess their avatars and even speak directly to them. That has not yet been demonstrated with the current Black Panther.

Moon Knight also alluded to the issue of worship. The Ennead said that humanity abandoned them. Steven Grant's literature, in episode 1, ed the Egyptian deity's accusation. The text stated that the gods were not "held in equal estimation." For example, a god may be worshiped greatly in one area but not so much in another. While it may be the case that some of the Ennead felt as though humans turned away from them, that wasn't the case with Bast. She was, and still is, being worshiped by the Panther tribe in Wakanda. With Bast's worship still intact, she may have no interest in becoming a member of the Ennead.

What Role Could Bast Play In Thor Love & Thunder? 

Gorr the God Butcher does not kill Bast at the end of Thor: Love & Thunder, the Panther god could impact the future Black Panther films.

Will Bast Play A Role In Black Panther's Future?

Bast was considerably more active with her interactions in the comics compared to the MCU. The only direct interaction Bast had in the MCU was the vision given to Bashenga. That said, Ryan Coogler signed a deal with Marvel Studios to produce a Wakanda Disney+ series. That series may include prequel stories of past Black Panthers. If so, Bast could be seen playing a more active role with past Wakandan leaders. Audiences may also learn why she hasn't appeared in the current MCU.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could have Bast engage with the Panther tribe. The sequel's plot remains unknown, but it's theorized that Black Panther 2 includes a T'Challa memorial and Shuri will be next in line to take up the mantle. Viewers will recall that the Heart-Shaped Herb was destroyed by Killmonger when he assumed control. In 2020, Marvel Studios published The Wakanda Files, which was a technological exploration of the MCU through the perspective of Shuri. The literature described Shuri as searching for a synthetic version of the Heart-Shaped Herb. Unfortunately, she did not have any original plants to study, so her research was inconclusive. That also further indicates that T'Challa may be killed in the sequel due to the tragic ing of Chadwick Boseman. If he were to remain alive, Shuri probably could've found a solution through his blood in which the herb still flows.

Nevertheless, Bast could fix Black Panther's Heart-Shaped Herb problem. Her role in the Black Panther sequel may guide Shuri in replicating the formula or bestowing the power directly to the next Black Panther. Something to note is the interesting comparison between the purple energy Ammit embued in the cane used by Harrow and the comparable purple energy found in vibranium. Like Moon Knight and Khonshu, audiences could witness the next Black Panther becoming an official avatar for Bast.

Moon Knight should continue to provide insight into the Egyptian gods and more. It remains to be seen how the Ennead will connect to the Asgardian gods in Thor: Love & Thunder. Implications from Moon Knight could carry into Black Panther 2. The concept of the Marvel gods is a fascinating new area for the MCU to explore. Given their incredible powers and influence on humanity, they surely will play a vital role in shaping the future of the MCU.

Next: Moon Knight's Black Panther Tease Sets Up A Future Avengers Villain

New episodes of Moon Knight release Wednesdays on Disney+.