“Creed” helmer Ryan Coogler is in talks to direct Marvel’s “Black Panther,” sources confirm for Variety.
Kevin Feige is producing the film which stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the prince of the African nation of Wakanda, who must take over the mantel after his father’s murder.
Joe Robert Cole is penning the script.
This marks the second time the studio has approached Coogler about directing the film. At the time he didn’t feel it was the right fit for him, and returned to finish post-production on “Creed.” With “Creed” now behind him, Coogler had a change of heart.
Marvel previously considered director Ava DuVernay for the job as well as F. Gary Gray. The film will hit theaters on July 6, 2018.
“Creed” is coming off a $40 million-plus opening weekend, with awards pundits seeing Oscar potential. Coogler first broke out on to the scene with the Sundance hit “Fruitvale Station,” which also had a hand in launching “Creed” star Michael B. Jordan’s career as well.
He is repped by WME. News was first reported by Birth.Movies.Death.
