For several weeks, the media’s been buzzing about the possibility of Selma’s Ava DuVernay signing on to direct Marvel’s Black Panther, making her the first Black woman to direct a Marvel film.
Unfortunately for fans, DuVernay ultimately passed on the project citing creative differences.
“I’m not signing on to direct Black Panther,” she told Essence magazine. “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 fantastic and a lot of people love what they do. I loved that they reached out to me.”
She continued, “I loved meeting Chadwick and writers and all the Marvel execs,” she continued. “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.”
Also being considered to take on the project is Rick Famuyiwa, but as it stands, Marvel still has yet to select a director for the 2018 superhero film. Famuyiwa is best known for directing Pharrell Williams‘ latest project Dope, The Wood and Brown Sugar. It’s safe to say that despite DuVernay’s absence, it could still land in the hands of some true talent.
