Forgive us for the hyperbolic maelstrom we’re about to unleash upon you, but: OHMYGOSHYAS apparently Marvel is courting the bossest of current boss lady directors in Hollywood — Ava DuVernay, director of Selma — to helm one of their movies. At least according to The Wrap, which is holy-cats levels of amazingness if it’s true.
According to the original story, DuVernay — who’s also directed a litany of other projects, including one of the most intense and visceral episodes of ABC’s Scandal, “Vermont is For Lovers, Too” — is apparently being considered for either the Black Panther or Captain Marvel films, both of which aren’t due to make their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut until 2018. Apparently the comic juggernaut wants to hire an African-American director for Panther and a woman to helm Captain Marvel, which may feel a bit pander-y but is a vital step to getting a variety of viewpoints into the directors’ chairs. Honestly, though: we’d be fine if they just gave both films to DuVernay and called it a day because she really is that good (and yes we really dig her style).
Consider, for a second, just how layered, nuanced, and real her portrayal of Martin Luther King, Jr. was in Selma: that sort of energy is exactly the sort of thing a Marvel superhero film lives and dies on — the authenticity of the emotional reasoning at the heart of the story. Add to that DuVernay’s ability to bring the funny and the viscerally dark (seriously tho — Khandi Alexander chews her wrists to bloody pulp in that Scandal episode. It is INSANE), and, well? We’re so on board with this perfect union. Make it happen, Marvel! Do what you must!
And to state the obvious a bit: it’s important, too. As it stands, a woman has yet to direct one of Marvel’s mega-movies. Though to be fair, it’s not for at least a teensy bit of trying: they initially hired Patty Jenkins to direct Thor: The Dark World, only to replace her with Alan Taylor after good ol’ creative differences caused them to part ways (Jenkins recently replaced Michelle MacLaren as the director of DC and Warner Bros’ Wonder Woman film).
What do you think of an Ava DuVernay-directed superhero film? Let us hear it in the comments.
HT: The Wrap
