Ava DuVernay passes on directing Marvel’s Black Panther

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Over the past few months the name most associated with Marvel's BLACK PANTHER was that of SELMA director Ava DuVernay. Marvel was reportedly pursuing her to take on directing duties for the film, but nothing had ever been confirmed or denied. In an interview with Essence, the director finally confirmed that she and Marvel had been talking but in the end, she decided to pass on the job.

I'm not signing on to direct Black Panther, 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.

Discussions between Ava DuVernay and Marvel had progressed quite far, with the director having met with Chadwick Boseman and the writers involved. Unfortunately it seems as though DuVernay and Marvel couldn't see eye to eye on how the project would proceed.

I loved meeting Chadwick and writers and all the Marvel execs, 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.

I find it a little concerning how often we get stories of the creative differences between Marvel Studios and their directors/writers; I get that the Marvel Cinematic Universe needs a certain amount of creative control from the higher powers, but why bother pursuing interesting talent when all they really seem to want is someone to show up and do what they're told. I've got to give props to Ava DuVernay for realizing early on that things wouldn't be able to work out between the two, saves us from writing yet another "so-and-so exited such-and-such due to creative differences" post a year from now.

There's no bad blood between DuVernay and Marvel however, as the director stated that "I love the character of Black Panther, the nation of Wakanda and all that that could be visually. I wish them well and will be first in line to see it." BLACK PANTHER is set for a July 6, 2018 release but Chadwick Boseman will make his first appearance as T’Challa in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR.