Ava DuVernay used the Fourth of July to declare her independence from rumors that she will direct Marvel's Black Panther movie, telling Essence that the buzz was not totally accurate.
The acclaimed Selma director told the news outlet that she met with execs about adapting the story of Marvel’s first superhero of color to the big screen, but they had different ideas of how to move forward with the film.
“I guess I'll declare my independence from this rumor on Fourth of July weekend and Essence weekend!” DuVernay said on her way to accept a McDonald’s 365 Award during the Essence Festival in New Orleans, the report notes.
Social media went wild this spring over the prospect that DuVernay could become Marvel’s first black and first female director of its first movie with a solo lead of color, which would have been historic and groundbreaking.
Read more at Essence.