Ryan Coogler and Wakanda-Based Series Coming to Disney+
Black Panther writer and producer Ryan Coogler signed a five-year, exclusive deal with Disney television. The deal includes the production company, Proximity Media, which includes Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis, and Peter Nicks, as principles.
Coogler is currently working on Black Panther II, which he will write and direct. The film is set for a tentative release date of July 8, 2022.
Salute to Ryan Coogler. An inspiration.
— Rob Dixon (@RobertDxn) February 1, 2021
Bob Iger, Executive Chairman, The Walt Disney Company called Coogler “a singular storyteller” and “one of the standout filmmakers of his generation.”
“With Black Panther, Ryan brought a groundbreaking story and iconic characters to life in a real, meaningful and memorable way, creating a watershed cultural moment,” Iger said. We’re thrilled to strengthen our relationship and look forward to telling more great stories with Ryan and his team.”
The deal with Disney is with the company’s television sector. The first project Coogler will helm is an untitled drama series set in the Kingdom of Wakanda. The show is the latest announced installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Neither Disney nor Coogler have announced a release date.
A WAKANDA TV SERIES IS IN DEVELOPMENT FOR DISNEY+ WE WON pic.twitter.com/sYTvx3qUDE
— CarlosVision 🎩 (@WANDALORIANO) February 1, 2021
WE ARE GETTING A WAKANDA SERIES I AM SO HYPE pic.twitter.com/F4RRoME7Jv
— 🎒 (@kingbackpackii) February 1, 2021
The Wakanda-set television series will premiere exclusively on Disney+. The show joins the 25 other previously announced MCU films and television series.
Coogler and Proximity Media are not limited to only working within the MCU. The deal allows for the production company to develop television across other Disney-owned properties.
No other details regarding the upcoming projects from Coogler and Proximity Media are known at this time, other than the role of the Black Panther T’Challa will not be recast. Chadwick Boseman played the character in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019), before passing away on August 28, 2020.
The next two projects from Coogler and Proximity Media are Judas and the Black Messiah which will premiere on HBO Max and in theatres on February 12, 2021, and Space Jam: A New Legacy on July 16, 2021. Coogler will serve as producer for both of the films which will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
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