Wakanda Disney+ Series In Development From Ryan Coogler
Black Panther is considered one the greatest movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having gained several awards and nominations, included the nominations for the Academy Award and the Golden Globes for Best Picture. But with the passing of Chadwick Boseman, the future of the hero was uncertain, even when the second solo film of the franchise was still in the works. Marvel and Disney have said that they will not recast the role of T'Challa.
However, this week, the writer and director of the movie, Ryan Coogler, extended his relationship with Disney and signed a deal for five years with the company. The deal will excite all the fans of the Black Panther, because not only is he working on the sequel, but he will also develop a TV series for Disney + about the Kingdom of Wakanda, the home of the Black Panther.
Bob Iger, Executive Chairman of Walt Disney Company said:
“‘Ryan Coogler is a singular storyteller whose vision and range have made him one of the standout filmmakers of his generation; with Black Panther, Ryan brought a groundbreaking story and iconic characters to life in a real, meaningful and memorable way, creating a watershed cultural moment. We’re thrilled to strengthen our relationship and look forward to telling more great stories with Ryan and his team.’”
Ryan Coogler replied:
"‘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 shar.’”
As we know, Ryan founded Proximity Media with his partners Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis, and Peter Nicks with a mission to create event-driven feature films, television, soundtracks, and podcasts. He is also responsible for bringing back the franchise of Rocky with the Creed films, which had Michael B. Jordan in the leading role.
Coogler paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman months ago after he passed away. Boseman fought colon cancer, and after the four-year battle against the disease ended, the director gave a beautiful tribute to the star, saying the following:
“‘Chad deeply valued his privacy, and I wasn’t privy to the details of his illness. After his family released their statement, I realized that he was living with his illness the entire time I knew him. Because he was a caretaker, a leader, and a man of faith, dignity and pride, he shielded his collaborators from his suffering. He lived a beautiful life. And he made great art. Day after day, year after year. That was who he was. He was an epic firework display. I will tell stories about being there for some of the brilliant sparks till the end of my days. What an incredible mark he’s left for us.’”
Now with the Black Panther sequel film and the Wakanda TV series in development, we think Ryan Coogler will honor King T’Challa, and he will give us another masterpiece as we continue to remember the king himself Chadwick Boseman. Wakanda Forever.
Source(s): Deadline, Marvel.com, The Hollywood Reporter