It’s been rumoured for a while now, but Marvel has finally made it official! Creed and Fruitvale Station director Ryan Coogler will be taking the helm of Black Panther, the highly anticipated Phase 3 movie which is currently set to be released on February 16th, 2018.
Chadwick Boseman is playing the hero, but we’ll see him suit up as Black Panther before then in this May’s Captain America: Civil War where he’ll be taking on a key part in the story.
“We are fortunate to have such an esteemed filmmaker join the Marvel family,” said producer and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige in a statement release today. “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.”
Coogler wrote and directed his first award-winning feature film, Fruitvale Station, in 2013. Most recently he directed the critically-acclaimed Creed, which earned Sylvester Stallone a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.
Black Panther has been an important character in the Marvel universe for 50 years. He is the king of the technologically-advanced nation of Wakanda, and the fan-favourite character has served as a member of the Avengers in addition to his many solo adventures over the years.
