Black Panther Eyeing Straight Outta Compton Director?

Following the release ofMarvel’sAvengers: Age of UltronandAnt-Man, the studio’sPhase Twois now complete, and fans are starting to eagerly awaitPhase Three. This nine-movie phase gets kicked off next summer withCaptain America: Civil War, which will showcase the newBlack Panther,Chadwick Boseman, for the first time.Black Pantheris also getting his own stand alonePhase Threemovie, set for release on August 21, 2025, which doesn’t have a director in place quite yet. While promoting the upcomingN.W.A.biopicStraight Outta Compton, filmmakerF. Gary Graywas asked about rumors that he is being considered to directBlack Panther. Here’s what the filmmaker had to say.

“I would love to direct a superhero movie. We’ll see what happens, man. If it’s right, I’m there.”

It isn’t known ifF. Gary Grayhas even met with anyone atMarvelyet, but if he has, this won’t be the first time he has dealt with the studio. The director was in the running to directCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, but he eventually dropped out to makeStraight Outta Compton.Anthony RussoandJoe Russowent on to makeCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, and they are now currently filmingCaptain America: Civil War.

Marvelwas previously considering Oscar-nominated directorAva DuVernay(Selma), but the filmmaker revealed last month that she had backed out of directing thesuperhero moviebecause she didn’t see eye-to-eye with the studio in regards to the story. Mark Bailey is writing the screenplay, but no story details have been confirmed just yet. Fans who sawAvengers: Age of Ultronknow there are a number of references toBlack Pantherand his home country of Wakanda in that movie, which could be setting up this new superhero movie.

Andy Serkisportrayed Ulysses Klaue inAvengers: Age of Ultronin a brief but memorable scene that introduces us to this character. In the comics, he is a main adversary ofBlack Panther, and while it hasn’t been confirmed that he will come aboard for theBlack Panthermovie, it certainly seems likely. It has also been rumored thatChadwick Boseman’s T’challa will be hunting down The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) inCaptain America: Civil War, but we’ll have to wait and see how that movie sets upBlack Panthereven further.

F. Gary Gray’s other directing credits includeFriday, Set It Off, The Negotiator,A Man Apart,The Italian Job,Be CoolandLaw Abiding Citizen. Do you think he would be a good fit to directBlack Panther? Chime in with your thoughts, and take a look at the director’s video interview below, with theBlack Panthertalk coming at the 3:33 mark.