Ryan Coogler Plots a Bold Genre Switch After Black Panther 3

Ryan Coogler is riding an outrageous high right now, and apparently he wants to follow it up with... a rom-com. Yes, the guy who made Fruitvale Station and steered Black Panther into pop-culture history is eyeing the kind of movie where two people talk, fall in love, and probably debate the correct way to order pie.

The rom-com itch

In a recent wide-ranging chat alongside his Sinners cast — Michael B. Jordan, Wunmi Mosaku, and Delroy Lindo — Coogler talked about the genres he still wants to play in. He did not hedge:

'When it comes to genres that I haven't done that I would like to do, the best answer I think is all of them... There's not a genre of movie that I don't love.'

And then he got specific. He lit up about Rob Reiner and When Harry Met Sally, calling that film a gold-standard romantic comedy for grown-ups — the kind that stays relevant no matter when you watch it.

'I would love to make a rom-com that works like that one day.'

Why he is saying this now

Timing matters. Coogler's latest film, Sinners, is having a monster awards season, pulling in 16 Oscar nominations — a new record — heading into the 98th Academy Awards. When you are operating at that level, people naturally ask what you want to do next, and he is clearly thinking beyond the obvious.

What is actually next on his slate

Two big swings are already in motion: he is executive producing a new take on The X-Files that just secured a pilot order at Hulu, and he is also gearing up for Black Panther 3. A handful of other possible projects have floated around, but they have been awfully quiet lately. If those stay parked, do not be shocked if a Coogler-directed romantic comedy sneaks onto the runway once Wakanda business wraps.

Short version: Coogler wants to try everything, but a smart, grown-up rom-com in the vein of When Harry Met Sally is the one he is openly circling. If he actually goes there, clear some space on your Most Anticipated list.