‘Black Panther’ Film Updates: Chadwick Boseman Promises “Grittier” Superhero Movie for MCU; Ava DuVernay Thinks Ryan Coogler Best Director for Adaptation

‘Black Panther’ lead actor Chadwick Boseman promised that his character’s standalone film will be a much “grittier” superhero movie for the MCU. Meanwhile, Ava DuVernay, who was originally attached to helm the film, expressed her enthusiasm over having Ryan Coogler direct instead.

According to The Independent, Boseman teased that the upcoming live-action adaptation the comic book character Black Panther will be a “grittier” superhero movie for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).  Boseman, who plays T’Challa a.k.a. Black Panther, revealed that the tone of his first standalone film in the MCU will be less light-hearted compared to other films in the cinematic franchise.

Boseman said, “It’s funny, because on one hand, the Marvel movies that I’ve liked the most are the ones that are funny… I love Ant-Man. But for me, most of the time the darker superhero movies are the ones that I gravitate towards, that I love the most. So I’m glad that I’m not in an Ant-Man. I’m glad that the tone of [Black Panther] may be a little grittier.”

He continued, “I just wanted to establish that from the beginning, that that’s what we were doing. That that’s what I intend to do. I feel like we’ll end up in a place that I’ve always wanted to be when I look at superhero movies. Those are the ones I like the most. It’s exciting to do that.”

Boseman was first introduced as T’Challa in Joe and Anthony Russo’s widely popular and highly successful ‘Captain America: Civil War’. He had to take over as Wakanda’s leader and protector after his father King T’Chaka was assassinated during a terrorist attack.

 According to A.V. Club, the upcoming film has already made waves in the cinematic community as the first ever superhero film to feature a predominantly African-American cast as well as an African-American lead character. It will also be helmed by African-American director Ryan Coogle, best known for his work in the critically-acclaimed films ‘Fruitvale Station’ and ‘Creed’.

Boseman expressed confidence in Coogler’s film saying, “It’s going to be a big deal because there’s not just black people or people of African descent that want to see it, I think everybody wants to see it.”

Meanwhile, Ava DuVernay gushed over Coogler saying that he is the right person to helm the film. She was originally attached to direct but eventually dropped out of the project. DuVernay said, “It’s perfect for Ryan Coogler. I mean, perfect for Ryan Coogler, a great friend of mine. He’s already killing it. Every time I talk to him I’m just blown away by some of the things that they’re talking about.”

She continued, “Fans are over the moon already, I don’t know if you saw the hashtag trending every time anything comes out for Black Panther: #BlackPantherSoLit. I’m the first person on there typing away. I’m already in line actually; I’m not here, I’m in line for Black Panther already – so excited for it.”

‘Black Panther’ is an upcoming action-adventure and fantasy film scheduled to be released on February 16, 2018. It is intended as part of the MCU’s Phase 3 to be released right after ‘Thor: Ragnarok’. It is produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.