As Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe undergoes a bit of a soft-reset behind the scenes, there are still questions about who could be stepping in behind the camera for the studio's next Avengers films. It remains up in the air, but fans may now have an idea as to one of the possibilities and one may be the MCU veteran who helped bring Wakanda to life on the big screen.

The report comes from alleged insider site The DisInsider, via ComicBookMovie,  which claims that Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is one of the top names on Marvel Studios' shortlist to direct Avengers 5 or Avengers: Secret Wars. No other names were given, however, and the belief is that Coogler would likely only direct one of the upcoming Avengers films.

This new report also follows online rumors that Coogler would be helming another Black Panther film and possibly the MCU reboot of X-Men down the road, though there has been no confirmation on either. However, it may not catch fans by surprise to learn that Coogler's name would be on a shortlist of directors to helm either of the next two Avengers films, or possibly even both.

MCU Avengers logo, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man.

It is a move that would make sense for Marvel Studios, as it did something similar when finding directors for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The studio turned to the Russo brothers, who had already delivered two massive hits in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War, and were ultimately given the reigns for the climax of the Infinity Saga.

Wakanda Forever!

Coogler's tenure in the MCU began with 2018's Black Panther, starring Chadwick Boseman, which would introduce audiences properly to the nation of Wakanda after introducing Prince T'Challa in Captain America: Civil War. Black Panther would go on to be a massive hit for Marvel Studios, with it becoming one of the most critically acclaimed films on top of grossing $1.349 billion at the box office.

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It would also land Marvel Studios its first Best Picture nomination at the 91st Academy Awards.

Coogler returned to direct its sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which officially began development around mid-2019. However, plans for the film were forced to change after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020 from colon cancer he had been battling since 2016.

“If I hadn’t gotten started when I did, and graduated film school at 24 and made ‘Fruitvale Station’ at 25 and then ‘Creed,’ I never would have met Chadwick, who has had such a profound effect on my life,” Coogler told Variety in 2022 interview.

Marvel Studios ultimately chose to not recast Boseman, which would be loosely reflected in the film's story with the sudden and tragic passing of King T'Challa. This would set the stage for the rest of the film, which included Wakanda's conflict with Namor and the underwater kingdom of Talocan along with T'Challa's younger sister Shuri becoming the new Black Panther.

Wakanda Forever would also land Angela Bassett her second Academy Award nomination.