A Black Panther television series is being developed by Disney in the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda as part of a massive new five-year content deal with director Ryan Coogler, Disney said on Monday.
The first comic book movie to be nominated for best picture at the Oscars, Black Panther was a massive hit and adored globally grossed over $1 billion worldwide.
The movie is also credited to be first step forward in African American representation for Hollywood. The director Coogley will be overseeing the sequel due next year.
Disney executive chairman Bob Iger said,
“Ryan Coogler is a singular storyteller whose vision and range have made him one of the standout filmmakers of his generation.”
He went on to say, “We’re thrilled to strengthen our relationship and look forward to telling more great stories with Ryan and his team.”
Proximity, Coogley’s company, will develop a “wide variety” of projects for streaming service Disney+ and other branches of the sprawling Mouse House studio.
Disney announced “roughly 10 Marvel series” would hit the streaming service in the “next few years”, at an investor presentation in December.
Others included the Samuel L Jackson-led Secret Invasion, If Beale Street Could Talk actress Dominique Thorne in Ironheart, and Don Cheadle for Armor Wars.
