Marvel wants Fruitvale Station director for Black Panther
Two directors have now passed on the superhero film Black Panther: Ava DuVernay and F. Gary Gray. Each helmed recent critical successes Selma and Straight Outta Compton respectively, both about the struggle of the black minority in an unfair society. It makes sense that Marvel Studio’s next choice would be Ryan Coogler, another hot black directing talent – at least according to Heroic Hollywood.
Coogler is currently doing the rounds on Creed, a Rocky quasi-sequel where the son of Apollo Creed teams up with Rocky Balboa himself (Sylvester Stallone) to become a boxing champion. The star of Creed is Michael B. Jordan, who you may have seen as the Human Torch in Fantastic Four, and who was also the star in Coogler’s last film, Fruitvale Station – a huge critical hit on the festival circuit.
DuVernay originally passed on the project, deeming her reason as it wouldn’t ‘be an Ava DuVernay film‘, while Gray opted to direct Furious 8 instead. One of the constants on the project has been Chadwick Boseman, who is on board to play the titular hero (real name: T’Challa). We think Coogler would be a terrific choice for the movie – and honestly, check out Fruitvale Station if you can – but let’s see Creed first, so we know if he’s a one-hit wonder or not.
Black Panther is released July 6, 2018 – but the character will make his on-screen debut in next year’s Captain America: Civil War.