Marvel’s Kevin Feige Confirms Ava DuVernay's 'Black Panther' Meetings; Discusses Hiring Female Directors

Marvel might be getting diversified behind the camera soon. It’s been widely reported that Ava DuVernay could direct Marvel’s “Black Panther,” and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has confirmed that he met with the “Selma” director about a possible project.

“We've met with her for sure,” Feige told the Hollywood Reporter. “We've met with a number of people for a number of movies. She has been one of them.”

In the fall, Marvel Studios announced the “Black Panther” and “Captain Marvel” films, the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies starring a black man and a woman as the titular superheroes. While many fans were pleased to see different superheroes taking the lead, the studio has still been pressured publically to diversify behind the scenes as well. Feige admitted he felt pressure to hire someone black or female to direct, but said that he was mostly focused on finding the best person for the job.

“It's an issue across the industry, for sure,” he said. “And the issue is, we need to find the best director for any given movie. And that's really where we always start. If diversity is part of that, it's great. It's important.”

DuVernay would be the first female to direct a MCU film, if she is hired. Marvel Studios previously tried to hire Patty Jenkins for “Thor: The Dark World,” but Jenkins left the position due to “creative differences.” However, it sounds like fans can expect a woman to direct soon.

“I think it will happen sooner rather than later, without giving too much away,” Feige teased. “But you look back sometimes, and it's just the nature of this industry, or the nature of the culture. But there's a big shift happening.”

Feige said that audiences will likely know the director of “Black Panther” by the end of the summer. DuVernay has been the candidate most often mentioned in rumors. MCU Exchange even reported that she had the job, but that has yet to be confirmed. "Dope" director Rick Famuyiwa is also reportedly in the running.

While it isn’t clear if women will have a major role behind the scenes on “Black Panther,” Marvel has already hired women to work on “Captain Marvel.” “Inside Out” writer Meg LeFauve and “Guardians of the Galaxy” scribe Nicole Perlman will pen Marvel's first female-led superhero film.

“Black Panther” is scheduled for a July 6, 2018 release while “Captain Marvel” is slated to hit theaters on Nov. 2, 2018.