Anthony Mackie says race is irrelevant in finding Black Panther director

Marvel’s search for a director for Black Panther is still on-going, but with Ava DuVernay, F. Gary Gray and Ryan Coogler all linked in recent weeks, it seems as though Marvel is keen to find a black director to take the helm. However, according to Marvel regular Anthony Mackie, race shouldn’t be a factor when trying to find the best candidate for the job.

“I don’t think it’s important at all,” says Mackie in an interview with The Daily Beast. “As a director your job is to tell a story. You know, they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit! The thing is I don’t think the race of the director has anything to do with their ability to tell a story. I think it’s all about the director’s ability to be able to relate to that story and do it justice. I think men can direct women, and two of my greatest work experiences were with female directors. So I think it all depends. May the best man - or woman - win.”

Sensible stuff, you'd have to agree. Chadwick Boseman has already been cast in the title role of the forthcoming film, although with a release date not scheduled until February 16 2018, Marvel has a little while yet to find the perfect director.

George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.