LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12 (UPI) — Ryan Coogler will indeed direct Black Panther.
Marvel confirmed the news on its website Monday, just over a month after the 29-year-old director was first linked to the project.
“We are fortunate to have such an esteemed filmmaker join the Marvel family,” studio president Kevin Feige said. “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.”
42 and Get on Up actor Chadwick Boseman will debut as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War in May before starring in the standalone film. The movie will open Feb. 16, 2018, and reportedly feature Andy Serkis as Ulysses Klaw.
In the comics, Black Panther, aka T’Challa, is the prince of the fictional African nation Wakanda. He possesses superhuman senses, strength and agility and sides with Captain America in Civil War. The character also has a romantic story line with X-Men member Storm.
“You never quite know where he stands,” Boseman said of the character to Entertainment Weekly in December. “There’s always a bit of concealing and mystery … Not to say there’s not charm and he can’t be a ladies’ man and all that. It’s more like if there is humor, it’s more like James Bond.”
Coogler made his feature film debut with Fruitvale Station in 2013, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and Best First Film at Cannes. He last released the Rocky movie Creed starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone in November.
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