Ryan Coogler, the Oakland-raised film director behind Fruitvale Station and Black Panther, has signed on to write and direct Black Panther II, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter.
Though Coogler was the obvious choice to direct a sequel to Black Panther—a smash hit which made $700 million at the domestic box office—today’s news includes the detail that Coogler will write the script next year with an eye to start production in either late 2019 or early 2020.
Coogler has long talked about the ways that Oakland shaped his creative vision. He appeared at premieres for both Fruitvale Station and Black Panther at the Grand Lake Theater, testifying to the city’s inspiration.
