“Avengers” star Anthony Mackie isn’t buying into the need to find an African-American director for Marvel’s “Black Panther,” a black superhero he has dreamed of playing for many years.
“I don’t think it’s important at all,” the “Captain America” actor told The Daily Beast. “As a director your job is to tell a story. You know, they didn’t get a horse to direct ‘Seabiscuit!’ The thing is I don’t think the race of the director has to do with their ability to tell a story. I think it’s all about the director’s ability to be able to relate to that story and do it justice. I think men can direct women, and two of my greatest work experiences were with female directors. So I think it all depends. May the best man — or woman — win.”
“Black Panther” is currently searching for a director, and has “42” star Chadwick Boseman locked in for the role of the Marvel superhero who runs a fictional African country and ultimately joins up with the Avengers.
Before headlining his own solo film, Boseman will first appear as Black Panther in the currently filming “Captain America: Civil War.” Mackie, who plays the Marvel superhero Falcon, will also appear in the film, as he has in the past two “Captain America” films.
“Selma” director Ava DuVernay was rumored to direct “Black Panther,” but she told Essence magazine in July that she will not be directing the film.