Black Panther’s Michaela Coel Makes Emmy History
On Sunday, September 19th, 2021, the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards took place. One of the creators honored was Michaela Coel, whose acclaimed series I May Destroy You, based on her personal experiences as a survivor of sexual assault, was awarded the Emmy for “Outstanding Writing for A Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.”
I May Destroy You
Besting fellow nominees like Scott Frank for Queen’s Gambit and Jac Schaeffer for WandaVision, with this win, Coel is the first Black woman to win an Emmy for her limited series writing. And furthermore, she is only the third Black writer to be honored with the award, after David Mills in 2000 for The Corner and Cord Jefferson in 2020 for Watchmen.
I May Destroy You (TV Series 2020). Photo: IMDb
Coel, who wrote, directed, and starred in the critically acclaimed HBO series I May Destroy You, which is about a young writer dealing sexual assault, took her moment on stage to speak to aspiring writers across the globe.
“Write the tale that scares you. That makes you feel uncertain. That isn’t comfortable. I dare you,” Coel said in a tight and powerful acceptance speech. “In a world that entices us to browse through the lives of others, to help us better determine how we feel about ourselves, and to in turn feel the need to be constantly visible — for visibility these days seems to somehow equate to success. Do not be afraid to disappear.”
Michaela Coel dedicates I May Destroy You to survivors of sexual assault as she accepts her Emmy. Photo: PEOPLE
Furthermore, Coel dedicated I May Destroy You to all survivors of sexual assault.
The harrowing drama, which draws on Coel’s on personal experience with sexual assault, earned glowing reviews from critics when it debuted in 2020. However, the Emmy win comes months after the 2021 Golden Globe nomination committee infamously snubbed I May Destroy You, leading to fierce backlash and a Los Angeles Times investigative report.
Coel and Marvel
Coel’s win is just more good news for Marvel Blog True Believers, thanks in part to the fact that the creator will be involved in the upcoming sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
It is not currently clear what role Coel will play in the movie, but considering she wrote, produced, directed, and starred in I May Destroy You, she could be doing just about anything! But hopefully, it will be a larger part than “Unidentified Female Resistance Monitor.”
Unidentified Female Resistance Monitor from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Photo: Lucasfilm
Thus far, fans are speculating that Coel might be playing the role of Madam Slay, who is a lover and ally of Erik Killmonger in the Marvel comics and has the power to command leopards.
Madam Slay seeks revenge on Black Panther for Killmonger’s death! Great, just what we needed: another themed villain! #marvel #jungleaction #blackpanther #tchalla #wakanda #madamslay pic.twitter.com/fPCSLW5lFT
— Marvel Daily Art (@MarvelDailyArt) February 25, 2018
Wakanda Forever
In which role do you expect to see Coel in when Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters? Have you had a chance to see I May Destroy You yet?
I May Destroy You. Photo: HBO
We want to know what you think, Marvel Blog True Believers! Give us shout-out in the comment section.
Featured Image: HBO
