Don't expect Ava DuVernay to sign the dotted line on any Marvel paperwork soon. The Selma director revealed in a recent interview she's not going to direct Black Panther or any of Marvel's other films coming up.
Despite rumors of the contrary, DuVernay broke the news to Essence. Initial claims suggested she was up for both Marvel's first headlined superhero of color, as well as the female superhero project Captain Marvel, but she put her foot down on calling the shots on either.
“I guess I'll declare my independence from this rumor on 4th of July weekend and Essence weekend," she told the publication. "I'm not signing on to direct Black Panther,” she added. “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," she continued. "I loved that they reached out to me.”
Although the director's chair remains empty, Marvel already got their titular character's role filled with Chadwick Boseman (Get On Up). The film will focus on him as T'Challa, the ruler of the fictional nation of Wakanda. Although the director did meet with Marvel and Boseman before she made her decision, but felt her vision and Marvel's wasn't necessarily on the same level.
“I loved meeting Chadwick 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 realize 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."
Based on Marvel's history of controlling projects, DuVernay likely made the smart and well-executed decision here. She can, and will, use her talents and skills for different projects which use her publicity to their advantage. Although CBS didn't pick up her tentatively titled civil rights pilot For Justice, she currently is working hard on her next film, a Hurricane Katrina love story. She's also attached to make OWN's Queen Sugar with Oprah Winfrey.
Image courtesy of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com