Black Panther: `Ryan Coogler Is Coming Back for the Sequel
The king is heading back to his throne. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ryan Coogler has closed..
The king is heading back to his throne. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ryan Coogler has closed a deal to write and direct the sequel to Black Panther. Sources tell the outlet that Coogler will spend the next year writing a script, and will aim to begin production in late 2019 or early 2020. Disney has yet confirm the report; representatives for Coogler and the studio have not yet responded to Vanity Fairs request for comment. Marvel chief Kevin Feige previously confirmed that a Black Panther sequel would happen as soon as Coogler was available to get things moving. He has, however, also said that the studio wont officially announce any post–Avengers 4 movies until after that films May 3, 2019, release date.
Per T.H.R., Cooglers team took their time closing the deal. The director has been in an enviable position these last few months, awarded precious leverage after the explosive success of his first superhero film, which grossed $1.3 billion worldwide and became a cultural force. Black Panther has also become a major awards contender, frequently mentioned as a potential nominee in the best-picture Oscar race. Disney has formally thrown down the gauntlet by tapping an awards strategist to guide the film, and making clear that it would not settle for a best-popular-Oscar statuette—a category the Academy wont actually hand out in 2019 after all. Coogler, meanwhile, has stayed mum on the awards circuit; its not clear how he feels about the Academy, nor is it clear if he ever accepted his 2016 invitation to join its ranks.
Over in the mainstream world, there was never really a doubt that Black Panther would land a sequel (we can give you 1.3 billion reasons why), nor was there much doubt that Coogler would return. His artistic sensibility is entwined with the success of the franchise and, as many critics have been quick to point out, hes one of the key reasons the movie was so wildly lauded. His deal arrives on the heels of another report about Marvel beginning to nail down its future slate: Scarlett Johansson just inked a $15 million payday for the standalone Black Widow movie. Everybodys gettin paid.
Before heading back to Wakanda, Coogler will also work on developing the education drama Wrong Answer, starring frequent collaborator Michael B. Jordan (a.k.a. Erik Killmonger), and producing Space Jam 2, starring LeBron James.
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Yohana DestaYohana Desta is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
