Nia DaCosta Will Become First-Ever Black Woman to Direct a Marvel Movie

DaCosta is also the fourth woman to direct a Marvel Studios movie.

Filmmaker Nia DaCosta is set to direct Marvel’s sequel to Captain Marvel, DaCosta previously directed Candyman alongside Jordan Peele.

According to a Deadline report, DaCosta replaces Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the directors who managed to rake in $426.8 million nationwide and $1.13 billion worldwide with 2019’s Captain Marvel. Marvel Studios has been meeting with different directors over the past few months. A few names that came up during the process included Olivia Wilde (Booksmart) and Jamie Babbit (Russian Doll).

DaCosta is the first Black woman to direct a Marvel Studios movie. She’s the fourth woman following behind Boden, Cate Shortland (Black Widow) and Chloe Zhao (Eternals). The news is a step in the right direction for the massive studio. Deadline notes that Marvel has been amping up its diversity behind the camera which includes strong female filmmakers. Though a budget hasn't been named, Ava DuVernay's A Wrinkle In Time could point to the range DaCosta is given: $115 million.

Brie Larson also known as Carol Danvers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will continue her role as the main character in the film. Megan McDonnell wrote the script for the upcoming sequel, she’s currently a story editor on the Disney+ series WandaVision. 

Nia shot into the mainstream after her 2019 indie film Little Woods starring Tessa Thompson released. The critically acclaimed film catapulted her career and helped her land the Candyman director role alongside co-writer Jordan Peele. Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, the movie's release has been pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The forthcoming Marvel film is slated to release on July 8, 2022.