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.