Creed Director Ryan Coogler Will Helm Black Panther

Marvel has never been shy about going with the hot hand when it comes to directors for its movies, even if the people generating it only have a few films under their belts. That’s going to be the case again with Black Panther, as the studio has landed perhaps the hottest black director in Hollywood right now.

The man in question is Ryan Coogler, who both wrote and directed the movie that revitalized the Rocky franchise, Creed. While Coogler’s name has been circulating with regards to Black Panther for a while, it was only in the most recent issue of Empire magazine that Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige confirmed that he will direct the solo adventures of T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman. It will be just the third directing gig for Coogler, following Creed and 2013’s Fruitvale Station.

Without stating it explicitly, finding an African-American director for the movie was clearly a priority for Marvel. Coogler himself seemed to suggest it was an important step when he talked to VIBE last month.

"I think when we have opportunities where you have people of color and minorities, filmmakers, producers, writers, directors making decisions on what stories to be made and actually going to work, then you prove that those works can have financial value. That’s what moves the industry along."

The 29-year old will certainly get his chance to do just that on Black Panther. While the hero himself will make his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut this year in Captain America: Civil War, he won’t get a chance to shine under Coogler’s direction until February 16, 2018.

Next: No More Marvel Movies for Joss Whedon

(via Huffington Post)