Five weeks after it debuted in theaters, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever‘s box office marks a historic milestone for director Ryan Coogler, as the film remains the top-earning release. The sequel to 2018’s Black Panther stars Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta, Angela Bassett, Dominique Thorne, Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, and Martin Freeman. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever sees Shuri (Wright) and the heroes of Wakanda grapple with the loss of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa, while also facing potential threats from other nations and the emergence of Namor (Huerta), ruler of the underwater city of Talokan.
As reported by THR, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has held onto the top position following its fifth weekend at the box office, surpassing $400 million in earnings. As such, not only has the MCU sequel’s impressive box office streak allowed it to become the second highest-grossing film of 2022 domestically behind Top Gun: Maverick, but it has also allowed Coogler to make box office history. It has become the director’s second film to enjoy 5 weeks at the top of the box office following Black Panther‘s original theatrical run. By surpassing this milestone, Coogler joins Chris Columbus, Robert Zemeckis, Barry Levinson, and James Cameron as only a handful of directors to have helmed multiple films that have surpassed five weeks at the top of the box office in the United States and Canada.
Will Ryan Coogler Direct Black Panther 3?
With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever enjoying continued success at the box office, many wonder what comes next for Wakanda in future phases of the MCU. While Coogler is currently co-producing Ironheart for Disney+ while also developing a series centered on Wakanda for the streaming service, it is currently unknown when the Black Panther may return to the MCU. While Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore confirmed ideas for Black Panther 3 had been discussed prior to the sequel’s release, he also stated that they were awaiting audiences’ reactions before greenlighting a third film.
Additionally, despite conversations being held at Marvel Studios, Coogler himself has yet to commit to an MCU return, revealing that he was unsure on what project he would prioritize next before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever debuted. While the director was an audience favorite to helm Avengers: Secret Wars, Coogler offered insight into his future projects when he denied having involvement in the sixth Avengers film, stating that he had been focused on completing Black Panther: Wakanda Forever all the way up until its release. As such, with Coogler stating that he was focused on completing his current projects before taking on any more work, a third Black Panther film may still be some time away.
Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever have been some of the MCU’s most successful releases, with both films not only representing impressive cultural milestones, but also being responsible for some of the franchise’s most impressive box office runs. Because of that, Coogler is recognized by many as one of the MCU’s most celebrated directors, earning praise for both his impressive filmmaking skills and collaborative nature. With Black Panther: Wakanda Forever continuing to dominate the box office, Coogler has now joined a handful of directors in making filmmaking history, adding a new achievement to his already impressive career.
Source: THR