For the longest time many fanboys had insisted that Selma director Ava DuVernay was the only choice to direct Marvel’s upcoming Black Panther starring Chadwick Boseman. The female director did indeed end up having a meeting with Marvel about the project but ultimately passed on the project due to not seeing eye to eye with Marvel’s plan. Now here comes F. Gary Gray.
F. Gary Gray is best known for directing Friday, Law Abiding Citizen and The Italian Job. Next up on the director’s list is the NWA rap biopic Straight Outta Compton which is generating a lot of pre-release buzz as it is. Now while promoting Straight Outta Compton the director was asked if he would ever consider helming Marvel’s Black Panther if asked or any superhero type film given his wide range of directing skills. “I would love to direct a superhero movie. We’ll see what happens. If it’s right, I’m there!” Ironically, the director was actually on the short list to direct Captain America: The Winter Solider before passing to direct Straight Outta Compton. The point is he is clearly on Marvel’s list as far back as 2012.