UPDATE 1/12: Marvel has released a press release confirming this news. Marvel president Kevin Feige stated: “The talents Ryan showcased in his first two films easily made him our top choice to direct ‘Black Panther.’ Many fans have waited a long time to see Black Panther in his own film, and with Ryan we know we’ve found the perfect director to bring T’Challa’s story to life.”
First Ava DuVernay passed on directing Marvel’s Black Panther, then rumors about who would helm the film ramped up in abundance.
According to the February issue of Empire, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige officially confirmed Ryan Coogler to direct the film.
Still riding the success from Creed, which made several Best of 2015 lists, Coogler is an exciting choice for this project. He first got attention with his 2013 flick Fruitvale Station, and I think he’ll be a great fit for the Wakandan hero.
According to Feige: “This one is important. Not only do you get an unbelievable lead character, but you also get all of Wakanda which is a whole new setting and culture to explore.”
And that’s only the start of it. Black Panther will be Marvel’s first stand-alone black hero, and representation both in front of and behind the camera is important, as Coogler himself explain in an interview with VIBE last year:
“I think when we have opportunities where you have people of color and minorities, filmmakers, producers, writers, directors making decisions on what stories to be made and actually going to work, then you prove that those works can have financial value. That’s what moves the industry along.”
By tapping Coogler for Black Panther, Taika Waititi for Thor: Ragnarok, and hopefully a female director for Captain Marvel (they already have female writers working on this film), Marvel is taking a lot steps in the right direction.
Black Panther will star Chadwick Boseman and is set to hit theaters on February 16, 2018.
Are you excited to see Ryan Coogler direct this film? Sound off in the comments!
Source: Huffington Post
