On July 11, 2018, it was announced that Chadwick Boseman would star in the film,
then known under the title 17 Bridges, with Brian Kirk directing.
Before Ryan Coogler was hired as the director of Black Panther, Ava DuVernay was in talks to direct the film and
even met with Kevin Feige and Boseman to discuss it, but parted ways after creative differences.