After the enormous success of BLACK PANTHER, there was little doubt that Marvel Studios would want Ryan Coogler to return, and THR has now reported that it's official: Ryan Coogler will be back to write and direct the BLACK PANTHER sequel.

The studio was hoping to make a deal with Ryan Coogler in the weeks surrounding the release of BLACK PANTHER back in February, but Coogler elected to take his time when it came to his deal, which THR says took place under the radar some time ago. At this point, the plan is for Coogler to pen the script next year with production on BLACK PANTHER 2 expected to kick off in either late 2019 or early 2020. In addition to receiving the best reviews of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (at least according to Rotten Tomatoes), the film was also quite the box-office success, grossing over $1.3 billion worldwide, coming in only after AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, and THE AVENGERS. Shortly after the release of BLACK PANTHER, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said that they already had a pretty good idea of where they wanted to take the sequel.

Nothing specific to reveal, other than to say we absolutely will do that. One of the favorite pastimes at Marvel Studios is sitting around on a Part One and talking and dreaming about what we would do in a Part Two. There have been plenty of those conversations as we were putting together the first Black Panther. We have ideas and a pretty solid direction on where we want to head with the second one.

Are you pleased to see Ryan Coogler back for BLACK PANTHER 2? What are you hoping to see in the sequel?

The events of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR obviously leaves one wondering just how Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) could even return for a sequel, but we can also assume that AVENGERS 4 will solve that little mystery on May 3, 2019.