It was rumored in early December then gained even more heat last week, and now it’s official. Marvel finally landed a director for Black Panther, and he’s a guy who knows how to shoot a fight scene well. Ryan Coogler, the director of Creed and Fruitvale Station, has officially signed to direct.
The full press release is over at Marvel, in which Marvel Studios President and Black Panther producer Kevin Feige says, “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.”
The timing of these rumors and announcements has been strategic. The first rumor emerged just after Creed‘s opening weekend exceeded expectations. This official confirmation from Marvel comes just after Sylvester Stallone’s surprising win of a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Creed.
In a previous interview, Feige has talked about how important it is for them to get Black Panther right – both to nail a great character and to add all of Wakanda and its advanced technology to their cinematic playground. It looks like they’re well on their way to getting it right with Coogler at the helm. Black Panther opens July 6, 2018.
(Via Marvel)
