Tag: Ryan Coogler

Posted on in Film News

‘Black Panther 2’: Lupita Nyong’o Talks About Returning To The Set Without Chadwick Boseman

While everyone at Marvel Studios alongside the cast and crew of Black Panther are still mourning the loss of actor Chadwick Boseman to colon cancer last year, the studio and director Ryan Coogler are pressing on with the sequel set to begin shooting this July in Atlanta under the working title Summer Break.

Fans are still extremely curious how they’re going to continue without Boseman’s T’Challa.

Yahoo! Entertainment‘s Kevin Polowy was able to speak with Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o during an interview to promote her animated project Super Sema. During their chat the subject of returning for Marvel’s Black Panther 2 was brought up and Lupita talked about the emotion surrounding the upcoming production alongside director Ryan Coogler’s

NYONG’O: “People will ask me, ‘Are you excited to go back?’ Excitement isn’t the word. I feel like I’m in a very pensive and meditative state when it comes to Black Panther 2. His passing is still extremely raw for me. And I can’t even begin to imagine what it will be like to step on set and not have him there.”

“But at the same time we have a leader in Ryan, who feels very much like we do, who feels the loss in a very, very real way as well. And his idea, the way which he has reshaped the second movie is so respectful of the loss we’ve all experienced as a cast and as a world. So it feels spiritually and emotionally correct to do this. And hopefully, what I do look forward to, is getting back together and honoring what he started with us and holding his light through it. Because he left us a lot of light that we’re still going to be bathing in. I know that for sure.”

We’re heard similar sentiments from other cast members and we’re still in the dark to how exactly Ryan and Marvel are going to approach the film without recasting T’Challa. The studio has repeatedly stated they don’t have plans on using a digital version of Chadwick and with the summer shoot looming you’d think they would have shared their angle by now.

Black Panther 2 is set for release on July 8, 2022 and we should start hearing more casting news in the coming months.

SOURCE: YAHOO ENTERTAINMENT

Posted on in Film News

‘Black Panther 2’ Working Title Is ‘Summer Break’

As a summer production in Atlanta is expected for Marvel’s Black Panther sequel directed by Ryan Coogler, the film has apparently landed it’s own working title alongside other Marvel Studios projects shooting in 2021.

Production Weekly is listing the working title as Summer Break. This will be strictly used during the filming of Black Panther 2 and these faux titles are often chosen by the directors.

Other recent working titles for MCU film projects are as follows.

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME = THE NOVEMBER PROJECT

THOR: LOVE & THUNDER = THE BIG SALAD

CAPTAIN MARVEL 2 = GOAT RODEO

ANT-MAN & THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA = DUST BUNNY

Details on the project are scarce but with the passing of T’Challa actor Chadwick Boseman there had been multiple confirmations from Marvel Studios brass that they have zero plans to use a digital version of Chadwick and have also downplayed the idea of recasting the role. We still don’t know what their plan is for the sequel and who exactly will take on the mantle.

Narcos Mexico star Tenoch Huerta had reportedly landed a villain role in the sequel but his character wasn’t mentioned in the report. We assume that they’ll be able to wrangle original cast members to return such as Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Daniel Kaluuya, Angela Bassett, Florence Kasumba, Martin Freeman.

At the end of the first installment, Wakanda revealed itself to the world and it’s advanced technology could lead to conflict with other nations. Fans have been hoping that complex characters such as Namor or Doctor Doom could end up appearing in the sequel but neither have been confirmed.

Director Ryan Coolger is also developing a Wakanda spinoff series for Disney+ as part of his overall deal with Disney. We’ve seen Wakanda take a small role in The Falcon & The Winter Soldier and could be planting seeds for the Coogler show.

Black Panther 2 has been given a release date of July 8, 2022.

SOURCE: PRODUCTION WEEKLY

Posted on in Film News

Michael B. Jordan Officially Making Directorial Debut With ‘Creed III’ – MGM Sets Release For November 23rd, 2022

Yesterday, MGM announced via Variety that Michael B. Jordan will make his feature film directorial debut with Creed III. Jordan playing Adonis Creed in the previous two films will reprise the role with Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad expected to return as well.

Jordan stars in the boxing franchise as Adonis “Creed” Johnson, son of the fallen boxing champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) — Rocky Balboa’s (Sylvester Stallone) former foe turned friend, who was killed in a match versus Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV.

The script comes from Keenan Coogler (Space Jam: A New Legacy) and Zack Baylin (King Richard) that is based on an outline from producer Ryan Coogler.

MGM has given Creed III a release date of November 23rd, 2022 which would suggest a fall or winter production start.

CREED II – In 1985, Russian boxer Ivan Drago killed former U.S. champion Apollo Creed in a tragic match that stunned the world. Against the wishes of trainer Rocky Balboa, Apollo’s son Adonis Johnson accepts a challenge from Drago’s son — another dangerous fighter. Under guidance from Rocky, Adonis trains for the showdown of his life — a date with destiny that soon becomes his obsession. Now, Johnson and Balboa must confront their shared legacy as the past comes back to haunt each man.

SOURCE: VARIETY

Posted on in Film News

Michael B. Jordan Won’t Say If He’ll Appear In ‘Black Panther 2’ But Keen On Returning To The Franchise

There have been multiple unconfirmed rumors that Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger would be returning for Black Panther 2, however, this has yet to be supported officially.

Michael B. Jordan today spoke with ABC’s Good Morning America while promoting his upcoming Amazon action flick Without Remorse. During his chat with the morning show, he was asked if he’d return for the sequel but wasn’t confirming his involvement while reaffirming a previous desire to return to the Black Panther franchise and Marvel Cinematic Universe if asked by the studio.

JORDAN: “I can’t say too much about that one, man. Honestly, with the year that we’ve had and the loss of a dear friend. They were figuring out whatever they need to do or what’s best for the franchise. They’re family, so if I ever have the opportunity to get back into that franchise, I would.”

Marvel Studios and Ryan Coolger have yet to reveal what their ultimate plan would be in the wake of the death of Chadwick Boseman, as Kevin Feige has repeatedly said they wouldn’t recast the T’Challa role or use a digital-double.

Fans have speculated the Multiverse could open the door to heroic (also alive) incarnation of Killmonger, allowing the character to take the franchise reigns from T’Challa. However, this is only a theory as characters such as Shuri and M’Baku have also been fan-favorites to take the mantle.

Coolger is developing multiple series for Marvel and Disney+ starting with one set within the Kingdom of Wakanda.

Production on Black Panther 2 is said to begin this June in Atlanta, Georgia with a release date of July 8th, 2022.

SOURCE: GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Posted on in Television News

Ryan Coogler Alludes To Working With Marvel Studios On Multiple Shows For Disney+

Following-up to the Deadline report that Black Panther director Ryan Coolger is making a Wakanda series with Marvel Studios for Disney+ as part of his new development deal between Disney and his production company Proximity Media, we might be getting more Marvel shows from Coogler.

In an official press release from Marvel Studios that was also cited in the Deadline report, Ryan reveals he’ll be working on “select MCU Shows” giving us the impression we’ll see him involved with more than just one show. However, they stopped short from revealing what those projects could be.

COOGLER: “It’s an honor to be partnering with The Walt Disney Company. Working with them on Black Panther was a dream come true. As avid consumers of television, we couldn’t be happier to be launching our television business with Bob Iger, Dana Walden and all the amazing studios under the Disney umbrella. We look forward to learning, growing, and building a relationship with audiences all over the world through the Disney platforms. We are especially excited that we will be taking our first leap with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and their partners at Marvel Studios where we will be working closely with them on select MCU shows for Disney+. We’re already in the mix on some projects that we can’t wait to share.”

There is a good chance that he could be exploring characters outside of the Black Panther/Wakanda franchise.

Ryan is said to be getting ready to shoot Black Panther 2 this summer in Atlanta.

SOURCE: MARVEL

Posted on in Television News

‘Black Panther 2’ Director Ryan Coogler Developing Wakanda Series For Disney+ As Part of An Overall TV Deal With Disney

Deadline has breaking news that Ryan Coogler has secured a five-year overall television deal with Disney and that he’s already going to develop Black Panther spinoff series for Disney+ that will take place within the Kingdom of Wakanda.

However, there are no current details about who that show will be focusing on.

Disney has made a five-year overall exclusive television deal with Coogler’s Proximity Media, which he runs with principals Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis and Peter Nicks. Coogler, who is working on the Black Panther feature sequel he will direct this year, will develop new television series for the studio. The first one will delight Black Panther fans: a drama based in the Kingdom of Wakanda for Disney+. The deal also enables Proximity to develop television for other divisions of the Company.

Coogler is currently prepping and writing Black Panther 2, which Marvel Studios is hoping to begin filming this summer in Atlanta, Georgia. Marvel has gone the record multiple times they will not be recasting the T’Challa role after the death of Chadwick Boseman and are not exploring a digital double either.

Will we see the adventures of The Dora Milaje or The Jabari Tribe?

This looks to be part of a push from Marvel Studios to cement their commitments to having a stronger presence of black characters in their growing cinematic universe which has been mostly seen on the television side of the MCU thanks to new Disney+ shows. The three big new series announcements revealed back in December included Samuel L. Jackson’s Secret Invasion, Don Cheadle’s Armor Wars, and newcomer Dominique Thorne playing engineering wiz-kid Riri Williams in Ironheart.

We’re also starting to see Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau in WandaVision becoming an integral part of the MCU before joining fellow cosmic heroines Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan in Captain Marvel 2.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

‘Black Panther 2’: Kevin Feige Reaffirms Marvel Won’t Use A CGI Chadwick Boseman In Sequel

You might remember an unreliable YouTuber was pushing a rumor that Marvel Studios was considering using a CGI Chadwick Boseman for Black Panther 2, something that was quickly debunked by Marvel Studios’ Victoria Alonso when speaking with Clarin last year.

ALONSO: “No. There’s only one Chadwick, and he’s not with us. Our king, unfortunately, has died in real life, not just in fiction, and we are taking a little time to see how we return to the story and what we do to honor this chapter of what has happened to us that was so unexpected, so painful, so terrible, really.”

“[We] have to think carefully about what we are going to do, and how, and think about how we are going to honor the franchise.”

During the Disney Investor Day back in December, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed they weren’t planning on recasting the T’Challa role. He’s now reaffirmed they have zero plan to use a CGI version of Chadwick in the sequel while speaking with Deadline to promote the upcoming release of WandaVision.

However, he is being vague how they’ll continue the franchise as referring back to writer/director Ryan Coogler working on hard on the project.

FEIGE: “So much of the comics and that first movie is the world of Wakanda. Wakanda is a place to further explore with characters and different subcultures. This was always and initially the primary focus of the next story. We’re not going to have a CG Chadwick and we’re not recasting T’Challa. Ryan Coogler is working very hard right now on the script with all the respect and love and genius that he has, which gives us great solace, so it was always about furthering the mythology and the inspiration of Wakanda. There’s also the task of honoring and respecting the ongoing learnings and teachings from Chad as well.”

Narcos: Mexico actor Tenoch Huerta is reportedly playing an unnamed villain in the new film and has a release date of July 8th, 2022 with production said to begin this summer in Atlanta, Georgia.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

Will Letitia Wright Have A Bigger Role In ‘Black Panther 2’?

Another little tidbit in The Hollywood Reporter’s casting news concerning Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther 2 with Narcos: Mexico actor Tenoch Huerta in talks to play one of the film’s villains. They mention that the returning cast will include Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Wintston Duke, and Angela Bassett with the former possibly getting a much larger role.

Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Angela Bassett are expected to return for the new feature, with some saying Wright’s character may take on a more prominent role. Marvel, which had no comment on this story, has not revealed its plans on how it plans to proceed without Boseman, although it has indicated that it will not use CGI to include the late star in the film.

Oddly enough, Danai Gurira is not part of this returning group but I assume she will be in the future.

Chadwick passed over the summer after a battle of colon cancer and everyone involved has been focused on mourning which makes me a little skeptical they’ll at this pointing locking-down production dates after they just lost their lead actor. Marvel Studios executive vice president Victoria Alonso debunked an online rumor that they were considering on using a digital-double of Chadwick Boseman for the film.

While the outlet is pushing this news that filming is set to begin in July the studio hasn’t confirmed if they’ll be promoting Wright’s Shuri to Black Panther status or simply recasting the T’Challa role which seems like the simpler move on their part as weird as it might be. Handing the reigns to Shuri would mean they’d also have to kill-off the T’Challa character and I’m not terribly sure Disney is keen on that idea. However, giving Wright more to do in sequel could lead to her becoming Black Panther at some point.

There seems to be a process where the ruler of Wakanda can retire the Black Panther position and still rule, as was the case of T’Chaka and T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War.

We’ll have to wait and see what Marvel/Coolger ultimately decide to do.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Film News

‘Narcos: Mexico’ Actor Tenoch Huerta In Talks To Play ‘Black Panther 2’ Villain – Eyeing July Production Start

The Hollywood Reporter has news that Marvel and director Ryan Coogler are in talks with Narcos: Mexico actor Tenoch Huerta to play one of the villains of Black Panther 2.

Also, they state that Marvel Studios wants filming to begin by July of next year in Atlanta, Georgia.

They’re not naming his role but Huerta would make for interesting MCU incarnation of Namor The Sub-Mariner, as he played a complex cartel member on Narcos: Mexico and I’ve been championing different types of actors for the role when it comes time for Marvel to cast an actor for it.

Namor’s Atlantis and T’Challa’s Wakanda have come to all-out war in the comics with Namor flooding Wakanda along with the two high-tech nations almost exchanging nuclear weapons. There is certainly tension there between them and plenty of unconfirmed rumors that Namor could end up being a villain go all the way back to the first film’s release. The sinking of Atlantis aka The Great Cataclysm in Marvel Comics has a direct connection to Celestials, Deviants, and Eternals which could be introduced in the upcoming Eternals film. Nods to Namor go all way back to Captain America: The First Avenger and have been sprinkled throughout multiple films since.

There are even objects from the Guardians of The Galaxy attraction Mission Breakout! located at the Disney theme parks that tease an Atlantis connection via “Terran Ocean Artifacts”.

Of course, the role could be something else entirely but he’s giving off Namor vibes.

Chadwick Boseman passed over the summer due to a battle with colon cancer (something he kept private) and everyone involved with the project has been taking time to mourn his passing. I’m not entirely sure how fixed that production start is given that was likely when they were planning on shooting before the death of Chadwick and there could be adjustments or delays upcoming.

Marvel Studios still hasn’t announced what their plans are with the T’Challa role but have debunked a rumor of using a digital-double of the late actor for the sequel.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER