Ava DuVernay Will Not Be Directing Marvel's Black Panther
Those hoping celebrated Selma director Ava DuVernay would make history yet again as the first Black female superhero movie director may have to wait as she recently explained that it won't be happening. Though she did meet with execs, she decided not to move on with the partnership.
"I'm not signing on to direct Black Panther," she told Essence. "I think I'll just say we had different ideas about what the story would be. Marvel has a certain way of doing things and I think they're fantasatic and a lot of people love what they do. I loved that they reached out to me."
The Black Panther film, which is currently in the works, stars Chadwick Boseman in the lead role of T'Challa, the ruler of the fictional nation of Wakanda and the first Black superhero to appear in a mainstream comic book franchise in the '60s. Despite deciding to part ways with the project, DuVernay spoke highly of both Boseman and the Marvel execs, but did admit that they had different visions.
"I loved meeting Chadwick, and the writers, and all the Marvel execs," she said. "In the end, it comes down to story and perspective. And we just didn't see eye to eye. Better for me to realize that now than cite creative differences later."
The plot that she originally had in mind was one that was relative to today's civil rights struggle paralleling that of the past. It was tentatively titled For Justice. "We turned it in the week of the Baltimore uprising, and we had an uprising in our piece when we filmed it," she said. "I think they thought it was a little close to real life. But I had an absolute ball making it."
Though she won't be at the helm, DuVernay has no hard feelings regarding the film and its team. In fact, she's in full support of whatever direction they decide to go in. "I love the character of Black Panther, the nation of Wakanda and all that that could be visually," she said. "I wish them well and will be first in line to see it."
Take a look at why Ava Duvernay rocks in the BET.com Black Girls Rocks! clip below:
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(Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
