Ryan Coogler

Ryan Coogler (born May 23, 1986, in Oakland, California) is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer whose work has transformed mainstream Hollywood's relationship with Black storytelling. He is best known for directing Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) for Marvel Studios — films that broke box office records and became global cultural milestones in the representation of Black heroes, African culture, and Black women in superhero cinema. Black Panther grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide and won three Academy Awards. Coogler also directed Fruitvale Station (2013) and Creed (2015). He co-wrote the Black Panther film adaptations, which drew directly from the Marvel Comics character co-created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and developed by generations of writers including Christopher Priest and Ta-Nehisi Coates. Beyond filmmaking, Coogler has been a vocal advocate for Black creative ownership and authentic Black storytelling in Hollywood, and his production company Proximity Media is committed to uplifting underrepresented voices. He graduated from USC School of Cinematic Arts.