Ryan Coogler developing 'Black Panther' spin-off series about Wakanda for Disney+
The kingdom of Wakanda is officially expanding.
The Walt Disney Company announced Monday that they have inked a five-year exclusive television deal with "Black Panther" director Ryan Coogler's Proximity Media company. Under the new pact, Coogler, who is currently working on a sequel to the 2018 Oscar-winning film, will develop a Wakanda-based series for Disney+.
Although details on the new show have yet to be revealed, Coogler's new partnership will allow him to develop television series for other divisions within the company.
"It’s an honor to be partnering with The Walt Disney Company. Working with them on 'Black Panther' was a dream come true," Coogler said in a statement. "We look forward to learning, growing, and building a relationship with audiences all over the world through the Disney platforms."
"We are especially excited that we will be taking our first leap with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and their partners at Marvel Studios where we will be working closely with them on select MCU shows for Disney+," he continued. "We’re already in the mix on some projects that we can't wait to share.”
Disney executive chairman Bob Iger also expressed excitement over the new collaboration.
"Ryan Coogler is a singular storyteller whose vision and range have made him one of the standout filmmakers of his generation," Iger said in a statement. "With 'Black Panther,' Ryan brought a groundbreaking story and iconic characters to life in a real, meaningful and memorable way, creating a watershed cultural moment. We're thrilled to strengthen our relationship and look forward to telling more great stories with Ryan and his team."
"Black Panther," which became a worldwide phenomenon, made more than $1.3 billion globally at the box office and won 3 Academy Awards out of seven total nominations. The highly anticipated sequel, "Black Panther 2," currently has a July 8, 2022 release date.
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