EXCLUSIVE: The Walt Disney Company extended its relationship with Black Panther director and co-writer Ryan Coogler. Disney struck a five-year general agreement with Coogler’s Proximity Media Proximity Media, which it directs with directors Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis and Peter Nicks. Coogler, who is working on Black Panther the sequel he will direct this year, will develop a new television series for the studio. The first will delight Black Panther fans: a drama based on the Kingdom of Wakanda for Disney +. The deal also allows Proximity to develop television for other divisions of the Company.
“Ryan Coogler is a unique storyteller, whose vision and reach have made him one of the outstanding filmmakers of his generation,” said Bob Iger, executive president of The Walt Disney Company. “With Black Panther, Ryan brought an innovative story and iconic characters to life in a real, meaningful and memorable way, creating a watershed cultural moment. We are excited to strengthen our relationship and look forward to telling more great stories with Ryan and his team. “
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Said Coogler: “It is an honor to partner with The Walt Disney Company. Working with them on Black Panther it was a dream come true. As avid television consumers, we couldn’t be happier to launch our television business with Bob Iger, Dana Walden and all the incredible studios under Disney’s umbrella. We look forward to learning, growing and building relationships with audiences worldwide through Disney platforms. We are especially excited to take our first leap with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and their partners at Marvel Studios, where we will work closely with them on selected MCU programs for Disney +. We are already participating in some projects that we can’t wait to share, ”said Ryan Coogler on behalf of Proximity Media.”
Coogler founded the multimedia company Proximity with Zinzi Coogler, Ohanian, Göransson, Davis and Nicks with the mission of creating films, television, soundtracks and podcasts aimed at events that seek to bring audiences together through stories involving frequently overlooked themes. Proximity intends to generate a wide variety of projects at all levels of budget.
Coogler’s rise to Hollywood’s A list was meteoric. His debut came in praised Fruitvale Station, and he met with Michael B Jordan in Creed, after persuading Sylvester Stallone to allow him to revive his character Rocky Balboa and his franchise. Creed it became a franchise of its own. Coogler then followed with Black Panther, a film that grossed $ 1.3 billion globally, the maximum for a film by a black filmmaker. He created a wave of global zeitgeist and became the first superhero film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Star Chadwick Boseman died last year, and Coogler and Disney are moving forward with a sequel he wrote, one that will not reshape another actor in that role.
The deal was negotiated on behalf of Proximity Media by WME, Charles King of M88 and Jonathan Gardner, Esq. By Cohen & Gardner.