Marvel Studios may have just landed its first female director, and she’s quite the catch. According to TheWrap, the blockbuster behemoth is courting Selma director Ava DuVernay for one of its Phase Three projects, most likely Black Panther, while Captain Marvel is a possibility as well.
Anyone who saw DuVernay’s exceptional work on Selma (her work behind the camera was largely considered one of the most egregious snubs at the Oscars last year, and the movie was nominated for Best Picture) knows that this is a big deal for the superhero genre, as well as a step forward in injecting a bit of diversity and gender equality behind the scenes of these big blockbuster films.
Marvel did have a female director – Patty Jenkins – in line to helm Thor: The Dark World, but she dropped out due to creative differences and the chair ended up going to Alan Taylor. Jenkins is now signed on to direct Wonder Woman for Warner Bros., so at least she’s still getting a chance at a superhero property. Lexi Alexander beat both Jenkins and potentially DuVernay to the punch though, becoming the first woman to direct a superhero film with 2008’s Punisher War Zone.Â
Reportedly, Marvel is also looking at other directors for Black Panther and Captain Marvel (Angelina Jolie has been heavily rumored for the latter), but there is “mutual interest” in the job going to DuVernay. After Selma (which earned a slew of awards last year and a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars), she’s in pretty high demand, so Marvel better act fast if they want her to bring Wakanda to the big screen.
Black Panther will star Chadwick Boseman and is slated to hit theaters on July 6th, 2018.
