It’s been rumored for a while now but Marvel just made it official — Creed writer/director Ryan Coogler will be helming Black Panther, due for release in 2018.
This is fantastic news. Coogler is coming off of one of the best films of the year (yes, Creed is that good) and has had an amazing trajectory starting with a modestly low budget debut (Fruitvale Station), a mid-budget sequel to a beloved franchise (Creed), and will now jump headfirst into the blockbuster arena.
What’s doubly exciting is that Coogler doesn’t seem like a gun-for-hire kind of filmmaker. His previous two films are incredibly personal and are anything but fluff; Coogler is a filmmaker who wants to use movies to reach people and get them talking about the world they live in. I sincerely doubt he’d be jumping into Black Panther if he didn’t have something he really wanted to say with the character.
Plus, Creed demonstrates that he has a talented eye for staging tense and enthralling action. If he could manage that with just two boxers in a ring, imagine what he’ll bring to the super-powered shenanigans of T’Challa!
I’m betting that we’ll hear some news about Coogler getting a pass at the script, or at least I hope that’s the case. His scripts for Fruitvale Station and Creed (co-written by Aaron Covington) are page-turners even before they made it to the screen, and it’d be a shame for him not to apply his excellent writing skills to Black Panther.
Get excited, folks. Black Panther is shaping up to be my most anticipated Marvel movie yet.
Need to brush up on your knowledge about Wakanda and vibranium? Head over to the Marvel Database and ask for J.A.R.V.I.S. to show you around.
