Belle and A United Kingdom director Amma Asante is in the running to direct Marvel’s upcoming Black Widow film. The news comes as S.J. Clarkson (director of the Jessica Jones pilot) signs on to direct the fourth Star Trek film, becoming the first woman to direct a film for the franchise.
Asante isn’t the only actor in contention to direct Black Widow. The Hollywood Reporter writes that Marvel has interviewed Deniz Gamze Erguven (Mustang) and Chloe Zhao (The Rider).
The Hollywood Reporter states studios have been ramping up their searches for women directors. This is likely a result of various movements such as #MeToo and reports indicating how few opportunities women directors receive in an industry dominated by men.
Similarly, Black Widow (portrayed by Scarlett Johansson) would be the second female-led film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU); the first, Captain Marvel starring Brie Larson, is scheduled to hit theaters in 2019.