Sinners Director Ryan Coogler Said No to the Academy — Here’s Why

Ryan Coogler just had a monster run with his latest, Sinners, and instead of taking a victory lap, he hopped on with The New York Times to talk about what comes next, how Chadwick Boseman still weighs on him, and why he once told the Oscars club, thanks but no thanks.

After Sinners: where his head is at

Sinners turned into a legit box office success this year, and Coogler is already steering into the next big swing: Black Panther 3. He confirmed that is the project he is moving into now. There is chatter about a 2028 release window, but nothing official yet, so pencil that in lightly.

He also addressed how Chadwick Boseman’s passing continues to affect him personally and professionally. The interview made clear that loss is still part of his day-to-day perspective and choices, even if he did not dive into granular details here.

About that Academy invite he turned down

Coogler revealed he declined an invitation to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences back in 2016. Not as a protest, not as a statement — he just did not want the homework that comes with judging.

'I am not good at judging things, bro. The act of, Hey, pick the best thing, is very stressful for me, even when there is no stakes involved.'

He stressed it was not out of hostility toward the Academy. It is more about how he is wired and where his time goes. He said he is already stretched with commitments to his film school and the unions he is part of, and none of that pairs well with screening piles of contenders and voting.

• He got the Academy invite in 2016 and declined.
• Reason No. 1: He hates ranking art — the voting part stresses him out.
• Reason No. 2: He is busy with his film school and union commitments.
• Reason No. 3: He is not in it for the industry pageantry.

The blue-collar side of a blockbuster director

Coogler, 39, said the tuxedos and red carpets are what people see, but the job itself feels more like a worksite than a gala. Most days, he is in coveralls and Columbia gear, troubleshooting one tiny problem after another until it all adds up to a story. That practical, keep-your-head-down rhythm is why he fell in love with directing in the first place — it feels like a real job made by real crews, not some elite clubhouse. It is also why he tunes out a lot of the self-mythologizing that swirls around Hollywood.

What to expect next

Black Panther 3 is officially the next stop, and while the calendar is fuzzy, the trajectory is clear. Given how closely Boseman is woven into that franchise’s DNA, it makes sense that Coogler is approaching the future of it with the same thoughtful, no-frills mindset he brings to everything else: focus on the work, protect the time, and let the movies speak for themselves.