Moviefone Editorial

Tag: marvels-black-panther

  • Lupita Nyong’o May Star in ‘Black Panther’

    American Theatre Wing's 70th Annual Tony Awards - Meet The Nominees Press JunketLupita Nyong’o may be continuing her fruitful relationship with Disney: The Oscar-winning actress is reportedly in talks to star in Marvel’s upcoming “Blank Panther” flick.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nyong’o is currently negotiating with the studio to appear alongside Chadwick Boseman in the hero’s standalone film. No details about her role have been revealed, though THR reports that she’ll be playing T’Challa/Black Panther’s love interest.

    That love interest could be any number of characters featured in the “Black Panther” comics, with HitFix reporting that the most high-profile candidate, from a purely canonical standpoint, would be Ororo Munroe, a.k.a. “X-Men” mutant Storm. But since rival studio Fox has the exclusive film rights to the “X-Men” universe, Ororo is almost certainly out; instead, the site has a few other theories about who Nyong’o might play that are worth exploring (including a character similar to one who made her debut alongside Boseman in last week’s “Captain America: Civil War”).

    If the actress does indeed join the flick, it will be her fourth collaboration with Disney, following her blockbuster success in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “The Jungle Book,” and the upcoming drama “The Queen of Katwe.” She’s also set to reprise her “Force Awakens” role as Maz Kanata in 2017’s “Episode VIII.”

    It seems like the Mouse House is very much in the Lupita Nyong’o business, and we can’t blame them. We just hope Marvel fans are ready to experience the actress’s awesomeness when she sizzles onscreen opposite Boseman.

    “Black Panther,” directed by Ryan Coogler (“Creed”), is due in theaters on February 2, 2018.

    [via: The Hollywood Reporter, HitFix]

    Photo credit: Getty Images

    %Slideshow-182751%

  • Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ Lands ‘Creed’ Director Ryan Coogler

    CinemaCon 2015 - Warner Bros. Pictures Invites You To "The Big Picture," An Exclusive Presentation Highlighting The Summer Of 20It’s been rumored for weeks, and now it’s official: Ryan Coogler will direct Marvel’s upcoming “Black Panther.”

    Coogler, who also helmed this year’s “Rocky” spinoff, “Creed,” was confirmed for the job by Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige, who discussed the director in a new interview with Empire magazine (as transcribed by Polygon). Coogler has been in the Oscar conversation this year for his work on “Creed,” and also won an Independent Spirit Award for his debut drama, “Fruitvale Station.” It made sense to attract a director of his caliber, Feige told Empire.

    “This one is important,” Feige said of “Black Panther,” and its place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “Not only do you get an unbelievable lead character, but you also get all of Wakanda which is a whole new setting and culture to explore.”

    Marvel was initially interested in “Selma” director Ava DuVernay for the job, though she passed on the project. According to Variety, F. Gary Gray (“Straight Outta Compton”) was also considered, and it took some convincing to land Coogler, who initially turned down the job earlier this year before Marvel approached him again. But Cooger’s chops will lend themselves well to the scope of the story Marvel wants to tell, according to Feige.

    “The movie is a big geopolitical action adventure that focuses on the family and royal struggle of T’Challa in Wakanda and what it means to be a king,” the exec told Empire.

    “Black Panther” stars Chadwick Boseman. It hits theaters on February 16, 2018.

    [via: Empire, h/t Polygon]

    Photo credit: Getty Images for CinemaCon

    %Slideshow-240331%

  • ‘Selma’ Director Ava DuVernay May Helm ‘Black Panther’: Report

    Women In Film 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards - ArrivalsUPDATE: Multiple sources on Twitter say MCU Exchange’s report is premature, and DuVernay has not been offered the job yet. One source says that she’s not even the top choice for the gig. We’ll see if Marvel weighs in on this one anytime soon.

    ORIGINAL POST:

    Rumors swirled back in May that Marvel was eyeing “Selma” director Ava DuVernay to helm an upcoming superhero flick, and now, one report suggests that DuVernay has already locked up a high-profile job for the studio.

    According to fansite MCU Exchange, DuVernay has been tapped to direct “Black Panther,” which stars Chadwick Boseman as the titular hero. The site reports that while talks did indeed begin in May and continued throughout the past month, the esteemed director has only just now officially agreed to take the gig. (Marvel hasn’t commented on MCU Exchange’s report, or issued a director announcement of its own.)

    If true, DuVernay’s hiring is a historic one for Marvel, marking her both the first female and the first African-American to helm a flick for the studio. (Patty Jenkins was initially tapped to direct “Thor: The Dark World,” but eventually parted ways with the studio over creative differences. She’s currently attached as rival studio DC Comics’s inaugural female director for “Wonder Woman.”) According to a report from TheWrap from last month, Marvel is interested in hiring a female director for “Captain Marvel,” too.

    “Black Panther” will revolve around T’Challa, prince of the land of Wakanda, charged with ascending to his father’s throne and avenging his death. According to MCU Exchange, DuVernay was hired well in advance of “Black Panther”‘s 2018 release date so she could be on set for the filming of “Captain America: Civil War,” which will introduce Black Panther and Wakanda.

    Stay tuned for official word from Marvel. “Black Panther” is due in theaters on July 6, 2018.

    [via: MCU Exchange]

    Photo credit: Getty Images

    %Slideshow-204061%