Creed director Ryan Coogler to helm Black Panther film

The surprise success of Creed has opened plenty of doors for director Ryan Coogler. Among them, according to The Hollywood Reporter, is a chance to helm Marvel’s forthcoming Black Panther film.

Coogler is reportedly in negotiations to direct the superhero epic, which will star Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the head of the fictional African nation of Wakanda and member of The Avengers. Boseman will make his on-screen debut as Black Panther in next year’s Captain America: Civil War, with his own film arriving a year later on November 3rd, 2017.

Update – Monday, January 11th at 9:50 p.m. CT: Coogler has officially been announced as the film’s director. Additionally, the film’s release has been changed to February 16th, 2018.