The Wrap is reporting that Creed director Ryan Coogler has indeed started negotiations with Marvel Studios to helm Black Panther, which is due out in February 2018 and production is expected to begin sometime next year to meet that fast-tracked release date.
He had been rumored for months after previous candidates passed on the film.
Joe Robert Cole will pen the script, which some speculation that Coogler will work with Cole to finish-up the screenplay. Ryan co-wrote Creed, his take on the Rocky franchise won-over Sly Stallone, so his story ideas will likely make it into the script.
Chadwick Boseman will star as T’Challa aka Black Panther the ruler/protector of Wakanda, with the assumption that Andy Serkis will reprise his role as Klaue. It’s possible due to recent talk from Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, they could possibly have a role in the film.
It’s expected that the film will shoot sometime next year at Marvel’s new stateside headquarters at Pinewood Studios, Atlanta.
Ryan would be Marvel Studio’s second feature director of color, alongside New Zealander Taika Waititi (half-Maori) who will helm Thor: Ragnarok. The studio is said to be actively looking for female directors to handle Captain Marvel as well.
Having just watched Creed, I can safely say our hero is in good hands and I really hope that Coogler is onboard for multiple films. The film tackles a lot of the same family themes that we should see in Black Panther, with strong writing, direct and acting from the entire cast, we also know he can handle shooting fight scenes.
SOURCE: THE WRAP