Kevin Feige opens up about what Ryan Coogler's next MCU movie will be after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Coogler first ed the MCU with 2018's Black Panther, which he directed and co-wrote. Black Panther was a massive success, earning over $1.3 billion worldwide and being the first superhero film nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award. After that, Coogler was brought back for the sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which he directed and co-wrote. The sequel is only days away from hitting theaters, but rumors have swirled about what Coogler's next MCU project will be, with Avengers: Secret Wars at the forefront of discussion. However, given the MCU's lengthy plans, seeing Coogler tackle Avengers may not leave him room for Black Panther 3, depending on when Marvel chooses to make the film.
While speaking with Variety, Feige opened up about what's next for Coogler after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. According to the Marvel Studios' head, he and Coogler have discussed potential ideas for Black Panther 3. However, Feige states that Coogler "wouldn't be the preference" to tackle the third installment. Furthermore, he confirms that the studio has not talked to Coogler about Avengers: Secret Wars. And while that leaves Coogler's future in the MCU open-ended, Feige seems keen on working with the director again, even if it isn't on Black Panther 3. Check out Feige's comments on Coogler's MCU future below:
"Well, I would want Ryan to do anything at any time because he’s a singular talent and a great person to spend years with. But no, in all honesty, there’ve been no conversations. We’ve not spoken to him about Secret Wars."
Should Ryan Coogler Direct Avengers: Secret Wars or Black Panther 3?
With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever set to hit theaters, Coogler's next MCU project is not set. However, he is still active within the franchise, serving as an executive producer for the Ironheart Disney+ series. Ironheart's lead character Riri Williams is set to debut in Black Panther 2, and Coogler will help adapt her story, but he could have further options as a director.
Directing Black Panther 3 seems like an obvious choice, given the original film's reception with audiences. Early reviews for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever have been generally positive, which could make for another hit for Coogler. However, depending on the film's reception, it could affect Coogler's time with the MCU. For example, Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok was beloved by critics and audiences, which led to him coming back for Thor: Love and Thunder. Unfortunately, Love and Thunder was not as positively received, which left Waititi's return to the MCU seeming unlikely. If Black Panther: Wakanda Forever suffers a similar fate, it could spell the end of Coogler's tenure.
Avengers: Secret Wars could also be a good fit for Coogler. He's shown that he can tackle big action set pieces with several characters, which is essential to an Avengers movie. Furthermore, directors like the Russo brothers have transitioned from a single-character franchise like Captain America to films like Avengers: Endgame. So Coogler could follow along a similar path, bringing the next Avengers saga to a close. Still, what's next for Coogler in the MCU remains to be seen, with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever likely holding sway over his future.
Source: Variety
