Warner Bros. has beat Universal Pictures to land the next big project from director Ryan Coogler (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) as his untitled film will see the successful director reunite with actor Michael B. Jordan. The news hails from Deadline after a heated bidding war that saw a group of studios and streamers vying for the mysterious genre film that Coogler will also write.

While there have been reports of the project centering around vampires, none of these new trade reports commenting on the deal are mentioning that aspect as plot details are still being kept under lock and key. But, the period genre aspect is indeed in place. Production is reportedly set to begin as early as this April in New Orleans, a setting that has indeed been used for vampires and other horror-focused ghoulies.

The pair have worked together on “Creed” (Michael B. Jordan is said to be gearing up to direct “Creed 4”), “Black Panther” as the rising talent played the film’s compelling villain Erik Killmonger with Jordan making a brief cameo in “Wakanda Forever” as the fallen baddie, and got their start together on “Frutivale Station.” Alongside this project, Jordan is said to be reprising the John Clark role in “Rainbow Six” from director Chad Stahelski (“John Wick” franchise) once he wraps up his “Highlander” remake at Lionsgate and is attached for an “I Am Legend” sequel at Warners that is expected to involve Will Smith.

Coogler hasn’t telegraphed his future film plans at Marvel Studios, but there has been some expectation after a bit of a break he’ll be ready to return to direct or simply write/produce “Black Panther 3” for Marvel Studios given the franchise’s popularity under his creative stewardship.

We’ll have to be patient for the film’s title and release date but being released in 2025 is a good prospect given the upcoming shoot.

SOURCE: DEADLINE