Earlier this week, Marvel announced that 29-year-old Ryan Coogler will direct "Black Panther."
The "Creed" director beat out other frontrunners including Ava DuVernay, who reportedly passed on the role.
Black Panther will be a big addition to the Marvel universe. We'll get our first glimpse of T'Challa, King of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, in this spring's "Captain America: Civil War." Coogler will then direct Black Panther's solo film for 2018.
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige praised Coogler in the announcement as "the perfect director to bring T’Challa’s story to life.” According to Feige, the film will be a “big geo-political action adventure" focusing on family T’Challa's struggle in Wakanda.
Feige also said the character will serve as a big link to help connect some of the next "Avengers" movies.
Here's why Feige and fans are so excited for Coogler to take the reins of the beloved hero:
Coogler knows how to keep a complex political story simple.
Coogler's debut, "Fruitvale Station" was the true story of Oscar Grant's shooting in 2009. On New Year's Eve, the 22-year-old was shot and killed during an altercation with a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) officer in Coogler's hometown of Oakland, California. Riots erupted when video of the incident surfaced online from a bystander's cell phone.
While there were many complex themes present in the film, racism, law enforcement, class, etc. Coogler told Buzzfeed that his main focus was on telling a relatable story about the film's protaganist.
“People know what it’s like to be young, people know what it’s like to struggle with something internally and to have that thing you’re struggling with damage the people around you," he said. "People know what it’s like to have a mom, a spouse, a kid. We focused on those relationships."
Coogler can do the complex "geopolitical" plot justice, but still keep the film centered on the legendary comic character. Keeping a clear focus will allow new audiences to connect with T'Challa as well please Black Panther's legion of fans with high expectations for his cinematic debut.
Coogler has also proven he can successfully direct both veteran actors and newcomers.
"Fruitvale Station" was the feature film debut of Michael B. Jordan and is often credited with launching his Hollywood career. Jordan earned dozens of acting nominations from film festivals for "Fruitvale Station" and is again garnering acclaim for his starring role in Coogler's second film, "Creed."
Coogler's direction has also proven rewarding for seasoned actors."Creed," won 69-year-old actor Sylvester Stallone his first Golden Globe. He was awarded best supporting actor in a motion picture for reprising his "Rocky" role.
The cast for "Black Panther" hasn't been announced yet, but Marvel films tend to mix newcomers with veterans, like Glenn Close in "Guardians of the Galaxy," Anthony Hopkins in "Thor" and Samuel L. Jackson in both "Avengers" films. Coogler has shown he can get great performances from his actors, seasoned or newcomers.
He's careful in his treatment of female characters.
Action franchises have come under increasing scrutiny recently for the treatment of female characters on screen and off. There's a notable lack of superheroine action figures — something Disney recently addressed with "Star Wars — and a notable lack of films led by a female superhero. (We're still waiting on that Black Widow movie.) Most recently, Marvel director and female onscreen champion Joss Whedon left Twitter following fan backlash for Black Widow's romantic story arc in "Avengers 2: Age of Ultron."
Coogler is noticeably careful in his treatment of women.
"Fruitvale Station" prominently featured Grant's mother, girlfriend and daughter, with Academy Award winning actress Octavia Spencer playing his mother. Similarly, "Creed" also focuses on Creed's girlfriend, played by Tessa Thompson and adopted mother, played by Tony award winning Phylicia Rashad.
The "Black Panther" comic franchise features multiple women, including his warrior sister Shuri, love interest Monica Lynne, and warrior tribeswomen Okoye and Queen Divine Justice. At least one of them will probably make their big screen debut and fans will likely be very sensitive to their portrayals.
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