It’s finally official. Award-winning director Ryan Coogler will direct the forthcoming flick Black Panther, Marvel confirms.
For a few months now, there’s been speculation as to who will be the visionary behind the lens. Now, the rumors can be laid to rest with this confirmation. Producer of the movie, Kevin Feige, also issued a statement to the site, further solidifying Coogler’s partnership.
“We are fortunate to have such an esteemed filmmaker join the Marvel family,” he said. “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 superhero character will be played by Chadwick Boseman, who’s best known for his critically-acclaimed roles in 42 and Get On Up. In a brief interview at the Hollywood Film Awards, Boseman recalled how he was slightly stunned to learn that Marvel had any interest in him to play T’Challa/Black Panther. “I was going into a screening of the movie [Get On Up] and my agent called me and said, ‘Marvel wants to get on the phone with you,'” he said. “I was like, “What does Marvel want from me?’ But from there it happened pretty quickly.”
Coogler has also garnered esteemed recognition for his film Fruitvale Station and his box office hit, Creed.