Did Ryan Coogler Delay ‘Black Panther 3’ to Make ‘Sinners’?

While Marvel Studios is infamous for doing its best to discourage leaks and keep its fans guessing, every so often, something unexpected slips through the cracks.

Recently, for example, a gym in Australia seemingly revealed that Charlie Cox will be reprising his role as Daredevil in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Additionally, Marvel stars Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo have made their inability to keep a secret part of their public persona.

SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 23: Tom Holland (L) and Anthony Mackie speak on stage during a Civil War Cast conversation at ACE Comic Con at WaMu Theatre on June 23, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)

Of all the Marvel leaks over the past 17 years, however, perhaps none was more surprising than Denzel Washington’s revelation that Black Panther 3 was in the works.

Denzel Revealed ‘Black Panther 3’ Last Year

During an appearance on Australia Today last November, the Hollywood legend revealed that he was joining the MCU for a third Black Panther film.

Photo: BET

“I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70,” explained. “After that, I am playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking to Steve McQueen about a film. Then, after that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next ‘Black Panther.’ After that, I’m going to do the film ‘Othello,’ After that, I’m going to do King Lear. After that, I’m going to retire.”

Washington’s declaration was stunning, first and foremost, because Marvel had yet to reveal that a Black Panther 3 was in development.

Source: Marvel Studios

In the aftermath of Washington’s slip-up, Kevin Feige and his team confirmed that Black Panther 3 was officially in the works. Still, the timeline surrounding the film has been foggy.

Ryan Coogler Explains the Delay

In a recent interview with Deadline, Ryan Coogler, who will return to write and direct the third Black Panther film, revealed that he paused his work with Marvel to create his latest film, Sinners.

According to the director, when examining his life, he realized he had the unique opportunity to tell a personal story.

Source: CNN

“I had to reckon with the fact that the audience doesn’t truly know me. And I got scared that I would look up and be 50 and would still be in that situation. And by then, I might not have anything to say. So the movie was made because I had to make it right now,” he explained.

Coogler’s on His Marvel Journey

The entire Deadline interview is a fascinating look into Coogler’s view of himself, his work, and the world around him. For Marvel fans, however, Coogler’s reflections on his Black Panther journey will be the big revelation.

“Black Panther, that was an open directing assignment, a job I was hired for. Thankfully the studio was interested in my perspective, in my reframing, and it was four years into that fabric, bro, because of the tragedy we all endured.”

The Bottom Line

Reading the tea leaves, it sounds like Black Panther 3 has been in the works for a while, but development was pushed back because Coogler decided to make Sinners.

That could explain why Washington thought that the film was common knowledge.

Regardless, Marvel fans can take solace in the fact that Black Panther 3 is on the way.