Ava DuVernay rules out directing Black Panther

The director, known for 2014's Selma, seemed to cryptically contribute to these rumours herself.

Ava DuVernay has officially put an end to the rumours that she would be directing Black Panther. In an interview with Essence, DuVernay provided a definitve answer concerning her possible involvement with the Marvel film. “I’m not signing on to direct Black Panther,” she said. “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 went on to suggest that there are no hard feelings between the studio and her. “I loved meeting Chadwick (Boseman) and writers and all the Marvel execs,” DuVernay said. “In the end, it comes down to story and perspective. And we just didn’t see eye to eye. Better for me to realise that now than cite creative differences later ... 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.”

The director, known for 2014’s Selma, seemed to cryptically contribute to these rumours herself. In response to activist Bree Newsome’s removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina capitol, she tweeted about directing “a motion picture about a black superhero I admire,” which many believed to be an allusion to Panther as well as Newsome’s act. Marvel has slated the release of Black Panther, starring Boseman, for November 3, 2017.