F. Gary Gray
Gray has an extensive and incredibly impressive list of work. From the 2003 remake of The Italian Job to the action-thriller Law Abiding Citizen, he presents a spectrum of work that would make him a stellar director for Black Panther. Not to mention the fact that Marvel has had their eye on him in the past. He was on the shortlist for directors to take on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but he backed out of the opportunity to go work on Straight Outta Compton. After spending so much time working on Straight Outta Compton, a film that brings “danger, machismo, violence and politics” into one flick, as described by The Mary Sue, Gray is already in the mindset a director would need to be in to bring Wakanda to life on film.
John Singleton
If there is any Marvel film that should exemplify particular efforts to impress the Black community, it’s Black Panther. While the story is still a universal one, its hero is also iconic in the sense that he is one of the most admired Black comic book heroes to date. He’s a leader and a hero and the Black community needs to love him. Getting the director behind Poetic Justice, Shaft, Boyz n the Hood, Four Brothers and an episode of Empire to direct the film wouldn’t be too bad of an idea. Singleton has always had a passion for embracing the integrity of Black stories and ensuring that they are told in a way that is relatable, genuine and yet incredibly entertaining. Singleton would be able to ensure that the action-packed dramatics surrounding the Black Panther don’t overshadow the Black Panther’s presence as a cultural hero who once ventured to America’s Deep South to battle the Ku Klux Klan.