Earlier this month,Marvelissued newrelease datesfor three mystery movies, while pushing their highly-anticipatedBlack Pantherup five months, from July 31, 2025 to July 19, 2025. Despite a recent report that the studio won’t seek out a director until the script is finished, Heroic Hollywood reports thatCreedandFruitvale StationdirectorRyan Coogleris the studio’s top choice.Marvelhasn’t confirmed or denied this report as of yet, but it makes sense that they would try to find a director soon, since their release date was pushed up.
Last week, we reported thatJoe Robert Cole(American Crime Story) is nearing a deal to write thescreenplay, so it may be quite some time before a script is turned in, especially since it isn’t known if his deal has been finalized yet.Marvelhad previously sought outSelmafilmmakerAva DuVernay, but she backed away from the project aftercreative differencesarose. Another report from August revealed thatStraight Outta ComptonfilmmakerF. Gary Graywas a directorial candidate, but he ended up taking the reins on Universal’sFast & Furious 8.
Chadwick Bosemanis set to star as T’challa, who will first make his debut in next year’sCaptain America: Civil War. No other characters have been cast yet, but it seems likely thatAndy Serkismay reprise his role as Ulysses Klaue from this summer’sAvengers: Age of Ultron. In the Marvel Comics, Klaue is a longtime nemesis of T’challa and his father, T’chaka. There have been rumors that T’chaka either dies, or passes on the Wakandan throne to T’challa inCaptain America: Civil War, setting the stage forBlack Panther.
It isn’t known ifRyan Cooglerhas even been offered theBlack Pantherdirecting gig yet, but the filmmaker has certainly been on the rise after just two feature films. The director made his debut with the critically-acclaimed 2013 dramaFruitvale Station, starringMichael B. Jordan, who he reunits with on his sophomore effort,Creed, which hits theaters on November 25.Creedis aRockyspinoff that featuresSylvester Stallonereprising his iconic role as boxer Rocky Balboa, who trains Apollo Creed’s son how to fight. The filmmaker is currently putting the finishing touches onCreedin post-production, but he doesn’t have any other projects in development.
Marvelhasn’t announced when they may start production onBlack Panther, but the studio just recently wrapped onCaptain America: Civil War.Doctor Strangeis expected to start filming very soon, withGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2commencing principal photography in early 2016 andThor: Ragnaroklikely set to follow later on in that year.Avengers: Infinity War Part IandAvengers: Infinity War - Part IIare expected to start filming in late 2016, so it seems likely thatBlack Panthermay either start around the same time, or in early 2017. Would you like to seeRyan Cooglertake the helm onBlack Panther?
