As Ava DuVernay continues talks with Marvel about directing a superhero movie, she is getting a vote of confidence from someone who knows her work well — “Selma” star David Oyelowo.
In a wide-ranging interview with TheWrap while promoting his new HBO film “Nightingale,” Oyelowo said he found the prospect of DuVernay helming a Marvel film exciting.
“The thing about Ava is everything she touches she elevates,” said the actor, who also previously worked with DuVernay on “Middle of Nowhere.”
“She bakes into it who she is,” he added. “So, if Marvel is as smart and as brave to go on that journey with Ava, I’m personally the first in line to see what she does with that.”
As TheWrap exclusively reported, Marvel Studios is courting the director to helm one of its upcoming films, most likely “Black Panther,” which has Chadwick Boseman attached to star, or “Captain Marvel,” the studio’s first female-led solo film.
Oyelowo, who plays a mentally unbalanced army vet in HBO’s latest offering, said he expects something new and different in a Marvel-DuVernay collaboration.
“I think she’s going to take it in directions that are both exciting and provocative, and different to what you’ve seen thus far,” he said. “It’s always going to be a Marvel movie, but she is so singular as a director that I think her, plus that brand is an exciting idea.”
But the actor hesitated at the prospect of donning a superhero costume himself.
“For me personally, I tread with caution around the notion of those kinds of characters,” he said. “Depending on which one of them you’re playing, there’s always a danger you’re going to get so identified with this larger than life character, that it could become tougher for audiences to believe you in other roles.”
He is speaking from personal experience, and harkens back to when he recently played civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. in “Selma.” While he filmed “Nightingale” before the award-winning film, the latter is coming out after he gained notice in the DuVernay project, which was released in December 2014.
“For me it’s such a blessing that ‘Nightingale’ is coming out after ‘Selma,'” he said. “As much of a blessing as it was for me to play Dr. King, I don’t want to be solely recognized as having played him. I want to play lots of different characters so ‘Nightingale’ feels like the diametric opposite of Dr. King. So yes, I don’t know that I’m going to be in a hurry to play a superhero for those reasons.”
“Nightingale” premieres Friday, May 29, on HBO at 9 p.m. Stay tuned for more of Oyelowo’s interview this week on TheWrap.
The Evolution of Marvel Movies: From Dolph Lundgren's 'Punisher' to 'Ant-Man' (Photos)
"Howard the Duck" (1986) - In this Marvel-meets-George-Lucas sci-fi comedy, a human-size duck is propelled to Earth from outer space as the result of a scientific mishap. Emphasis was placed on special effects and portraying Howard as a less cynical duck than that in the comic.
Universal Pictures
"The Punisher" (1989) - Dolph Lundgren donned a signature skull shirt for a violent adaptation of the story of vigilante Frank Castle, a.k.a The Punisher
New World Pictures
"Fantastic Four" (1994) - Legend has it that Roger Corman produced this low-budget adaptation so that a producer could retain the film rights to the comic. Though never released theatrically, it is available on YouTube.
New Horizons
"Generation X" (1996) - Hoping to capitalize on the popular “X-Men” animated series of the '90s, “Generation X” was a TV movie that aired on Fox about a school for the gifted run by Emma Frost and Banshee.
Fox Network
"Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." (1998) - David Hasselhoff donned Nick Fury’s eye-patch long before Sam Jackson in this made-for-TV-movie that premiered on Fox.
Fury Productions/Fox Network
"Blade" (1998) - Wesley Snipes headlined as a half-man, half-vampire fighting against an evil bloodsucker intent on taking over the world
Marvel/New Line Cinema
"X-Men" (2000) - Hugh Jackman achieved international fame as Wolverine in the story of the famed Marvel superhero team
Marvel/Twentieth Century Fox
"Hulk" (2003) - Ang Lee's much maligned story of Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) as he struggles to control the raging monster within himself
Marvel/Universal Pictures
"Daredevil" (2003) - Ben Affleck earned plenty of scorn for his portrayal of the blind defender of Hell's Kitchen. Nevertheless, the film earned almost $180 million globally
Marvel/New Regency
"The Punisher" (2004) - Thomas Jane took over as Frank Castle in this ultra-violent vigilante tale that also starred John Travolta
Marvel/Lionsgate
"Elektra" (2005) - Jennifer Garner reprises her role as Elektra Natchios, an international assassin, in the spin-off from the more successful 2003 film, Daredevil.
Twentieth Century Fox
"Man-Thing" (2005) - Marvel tried its hand at horror with the “Man-Thing,” loosely based on Stan Lee's swamp monster comic from '71. It features a swamp-monster whose touch burns people who feel fear.
Lions Gate/Artisan Entertainment
"Ghost Rider" (2007) - Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes starred in the story of a motorcycle daredevil (Cage) who sold his soul to the devil.
Marvel/Columbia Pictures
"Iron Man" (2008) - The movie that launched the MCU into the stratosphere starred Robert Downey Jr. as billionaire Tony Stark, a weapons manufacturerer who decides to defend the innocent who are caught in the path of the very weapons he once designed
Marvel/Paramount
"The Incredible Hulk" (2008) - Edward Norton took over the role of Dr. Bruce Banner in the setup to the eventual "Avengers" crossover
Marvel/Universal
"Captain America" (2011) - Chris Evans took up the red, white, and blue shield of the First Avenger as he fought against Hydra head Red Skull (Hugo Weaving)
Marvel/Paramount
"Thor" (2011) - Chris Hemsworth played the hammer-wielding god of thunder as he battles his brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), for control of the mythical realm of Asgard
Marvel/Paramount
"The Avengers" (2012) - The superhero team assembled for this blockbuster as they fought to prevent an alien invasion of Earth. Mark Ruffalo took over the role of Bruce Banner from Edward Norton
Marvel/Paramount
"Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014) - Chris Pratt proved himself to be an action superstar as Peter "Star-Lord" Quill in this intergalactic sensation that grossed almost $775 million
Marvel Studios
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015) - The Avengers assemble once again as they try to stop Ultron, an A.I. built by Tony Stark that wants to destroy humanity
Marvel Studios
"Ant-Man" (2015) Paul Rudd plays a thief just out of prison who stumbles on a suit that shrinks him to microscopic size -- all the better to prevent Corey Stoll's evil executive from using the same technology for warfare.
Marvel Studios
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Marvel adaptations have gone from cheesy fun films to guaranteed hits and box office gold