Marvel Studios’s “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is about to be unleashed on the world, but already eyes are turning to what’s next for the franchise and for its director Ryan Coogler.
Speaking with Variety, Coogler says he’s not sure if his next film will be a third “Black Panther” feature or something different. One thing it certainly won’t be though is “Avengers: Secret Wars”.
The filmmaker has been rumored to be taking on the gig, but Coogler has shot down that talk rather definitively, saying “That’s crazy”. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige is in agreement with Coogler’s sentiments, saying nothing has happened on that front:
“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.'”
Though they would prefer Coogler’s involvement for a third “Black Panther” film, Feige says continuing without him “wouldn’t be the preference”. He does confirm that the franchise is going to keep going either way:
“I go back to what I said when we decided to make ‘Wakanda Forever’ after losing Chad. This mythology and this ensemble and these characters deserve to continue and will continue after all of us are gone, I hope, and will continue forever in movies the way it has in comics for 50-plus years.”
As for Coogler himself, he tells the trade he’s not sure what he’s doing next:
“I can tell you definitively I have no idea what I’m doing next. It’s very difficult because you’re exhausted and emotionally spent, and I’m trying to give [‘Wakanda Forever’] my full attention. After that, I’ll figure out what’s going on with me. But I think it’s going to be some rest and family time.”
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” arrives in theaters this Friday. Whoever helms “Avengers: Secret Wars,” that film will be hitting cinemas on May 1st 2026.
