Joe Robert Cole (FX’s “American Crime Story”) is nearing a deal to write “Black Panther” for Marvel, TheWrap has exclusively learned.

Marvel had no comment.

Marvel’s Kevin Feige is set to produce “Black Panther,” which will star Chadwick Boseman (“Get On Up”) as T’Challa, a.k.a. the titular superhero from the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Andy Serkis is also expected to reprise his role as Ulysses Klaw from “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” though his involvement remains unconfirmed.

December 04, 2015 2:58pm PT by Borys Kit, Rebecca Ford
'Creed' Director Ryan Coogler in Talks to Direct Marvel's 'Black Panther'

Ryan Coogler, the director who is coming off of the surprisingly strong opening of Creed, is in negotiations to direct Black Panther, Marvel Studios' movie featuring the first black superhero.

The move puts the on-off dance the studio and the filmmaker have been minueting back in sympatico. Coogler had met with the studio earlier in the fall but talks cooled. Now, with the afterglow of Creed’s success, negotiations are back on.

Coogler's latest film, starring Michael B. Jordan as Apollo Creed's son Adonis, earned strong reviews and a big $29.6 million in its debut.

Chadwick Boseman is playing the hero, whose name is T’Challa, the head of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. The Black Panther — created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in the pages of Fantastic Four — was a long-serving member of the Avengers. The character, via Boseman, makes his first screen appearance in next year’s Captain America: Civil War.

Panther is scheduled to be released Nov. 3, 2017.

WME-repped Coogler first made a name for himself with 2013's Fruitvale Station, which starred Jordan as Oscar Grant, a Bay Area resident who, unarmed and handcuffed, was fatally shot by BART Police officer.

After showing much promise with Fruitvale and now pulling off Creed, a Rocky movie that faced low expectations, he has become one of Hollywood's hottest young directors.

Now it looks like he's taking a bigger step with a studio superhero film.

Birthmoviesdeath.com first reported the news of Coogler being back in talks for Panther.

Marvel's Black Panther is still well-over two years away from its release and at this point very little is known about the film.

We know that its titular hero will make his debut in Captain America: Civil War, with Chadwick Boseman playing T'Challa and Black Panther will be the final film of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe before the grand Infinity War finale begins. Other than that, it's either a secret or it's undecided.

Marvel Studios head, Kevin Feige, recently shared some new details about the film. "This one is important," Feige tells Empire of Black Panther. "Not only do you get an unbelievable lead character, but you also get all of Wakanda which is a whole new setting and culture to explore.”

Despite the cast being unannounced and/or undecided, Feige assures it will be "primarily African-American." That will be another step in the diversity direction for Marvel films, which have become known for having white male actors front and center (often times named 'Chris'). Earlier this year, the announcement of Ant-Man and The Wasp marked Evangeline Lilly's Hope Van Dyne as the first heroine to be named in a Marvel Studios film's title.

Of course, we're also wondering how Black Panther will effect the grand scheme of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's story leading into Infinity War. "It's a big geo-political action adventure that focuses on the family and royal struggle of T'Challa in Wakanda, and what is means to be a king," says Fiege. "T'Challa's story is very important to us as it links to the next Avengers films, which is why we brought it forward.”

‘Black Panther’: ‘Creed’s’ Ryan Coogler Confirmed to Direct
JANUARY 11, 2016 | 04:34PM PT
Justin Kroll
Film Reporter
@krolljvar

“Creed” helmer Ryan Coogler is directing Marvel’s “Black Panther,” the studio officially announced Monday following months of rumors that he would board the superhero film.

Kevin Feige is producing the movie, which stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the prince of the African nation of Wakanda, who must take over the mantel after his father’s murder.

Joe Robert Cole is penning the script. Variety previously reported in December that Coogler was in talks for the gig. “Selma” director Ava DuVernay’s name was also tossed into the mix over the summer, but she put an end to those rumors in July, saying she and Marvel “had different ideas about what the story would be.”

The film will hit theaters on Feb. 16, 2018.

“We are fortunate to have such an esteemed filmmaker join the Marvel family,” said Feige in a statement. “The talents Ryan showcased in his first two films easily made him our top choice to direct ‘Black Panther.’ Many fans have waited a long time to see Black Panther in his own film, and with Ryan we know we’ve found the perfect director to bring T’Challa’s story to life.”

“Creed” has been a box office champ so far, grossing $103 million, with awards pundits seeing Oscar potential following Sylvester Stallone’s win Sunday night at the Golden Globes for best supporting actor.

Coogler first broke out on to the scene with the Sundance hit “Fruitvale Station,” which also had a hand in launching “Creed” star Michael B. Jordan’s career.

Here’s what Feige said when I asked if they had locked in a finished script,

“Very soon. We have a number of writers on it including Ryan Coogler, who is also directing, he’s working on the draft right now. Between now and the end of the summer there will be more casting announcements. We start filming at the very beginning of next year.”