Why the Reasons Ava DuVernay Removed Herself From the BLACK PANTHER Director List isn't That Big of a Deal



The past few weeks rumors on the web have been stating Marvel Studios had interest in hiring Selma director Ava DuVernay to helm BLACK PANTHER. Last week, studio head Kevin Feige confirmed he had spoken with her about the gig but nothing was finalized.

DuVernay has now confirmed she has pulled her name off the list of possible BLACK PANTHER directors. Citing her vision for the movie did not align with Marvel's vision.

"I'm not signing on to direct Black Panther,” DuVernay said to Essence. “I think I’ll just say we had different ideas about what the story would be. Marvel has a certain way of doing things and I think they’re fantastic and a lot of people love what they do. I loved that they reached out to me."

The director also said she got to meet leading actor Chadwick Boseman and those who are writing BLACK PANTHER.

“I loved meeting Chadwick and writers and all the Marvel execs. In the end, it comes down to story and perspective. And we just didn't see eye to eye. Better for me to realize that now than cite creative differences later.”

Unfortunately this will give the Marvel Studios haters some ammunition. But the fact of the matter is that most directors want his or her own vision for a movie as they spend many months and sometimes years working on a film. This isn't the Marvel Studios way because Feige and his brain trust are also co-auteurs of these movies. They give their directors creative freedom while in production, but its the final cut that Feige has the last word on in order to continue a cohesive Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Don't hate the studio or the executive, hate the larger movie universe they have built and need to adhere to. What Feige and his brain trust have built is the first in the history of film and has nearly every studio trying to copy their concept and format of a large connected multi-film universe; in one way or another.

Hate if you want, but if Feige didn't have final control over the MCU then it most likely wouldn't be as unified and successful as it currently is.

Not all directors will see eye-to-eye with Feige. However, there are those who do like James Gunn and the Russo Brothers since they are currently signed on for sequels. ANT-MAN director Peyton Reed said he wants to return for a sequel or prequel, too. Plus, Adam McKay (ANT-MAN co-screenwriter) has said he's in talks with Marvel for a possible future directing gig.

There's plenty of directors who are compatible and want to work for Marvel Studios and there is plenty of time to find a director who has a similar vision for the character as Feige does. So there's absolutely nothing to worry about unless you're looking for any reason to hate.