Way back in October, it was whispered that Creed and Fruitvale Station director Ryan Coogler was Marvel's top choice for their upcoming Marvel Phase 3 adventure Black Panther. BirthMoviesDeath is reporting today that talks have actually begun between Coogler and the studio. Though, no one from Disney nor Marvel will confirm this news at this time.

Sources close to the negotiations claim that Ryan Coogler is nearing a deal to climb behind the director's seat for this Wakanda set action adventure. It is stated that Marvel has been looking for an African-American director to take the helm, something they view is important in bringing this particular longstanding comic book character to the big screen. They have also been looking for someone with talent and a legitimacy that Creed proves he has.

Creed, which continues the Rocky franchise without rebooting it, follows the son of Apollo Creed as he is trained by Rocky Balboa, played once again by legendary action icon Sylvester Stallone. There is a lot of Oscar buzz surrounding the spinoff/sequel, with both Stallone and Ryan Coogler possible candidates for the golden statue. If Creed proved anything, it's that this is one filmmaker who knows how to balance entertainment with real art.

According to these sources, talks are ongoing as we speak. But as we've seen in the past, nothing is ever a sure deal for Marvel. And just because someone is in negotiations, it doesn't mean they will for sure sign on. Chadwick Boseman is set to star as T'challa, who will first make his debut in next year's Captain America: Civil War. No other characters have been cast yet, but it seems likely that Andy Serkis may reprise his role as Ulysses Klaue from this summer's Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the Marvel Comics, Klaue is a longtime nemesis of T'challa and his father, T'chaka. There have been rumors that T'chaka either dies, or passes on the Wakandan throne to T'challa in Captain America: Civil War, setting the stage for Black Panther.

Marvel hasn't announced when they may start production on Black Panther, but the studio just recently wrapped on Captain America: Civil War. Doctor Strange is expected to start filming very soon, with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 commencing principal photography in early 2016 and Thor: Ragnarok likely set to follow later on in that year. Avengers: Infinity War Part I and Avengers: Infinity War - Part II are expected to start filming in late 2016, so it seems likely that Black Panther may either start around the same time, or in early 2017. Would you like to see Ryan Coogler take the helm on Black Panther?