Filmmaker Julius Onah, who’s known for helming the 2018 sci-fi horror sequel The Cloverfield Paradox and the 2019 social thriller Luce, has signed on to direct Captain America 4 for Marvel Studios. There’s no known date yet on when the filmmaker will start production on the series’ third follow-up, however, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Anthony Mackie is expected to reprise his long-time Marvel character of Sam Wilson in Captain America 4. However, the SAG Award-nominated actor won’t also be playing his character’s long-time alter ego and Captain America sidekick, Falcon, in the upcoming superhero movie.
Sam moving away from his alter ego comes after the events of last year’s Marvel’s Disney+ miniseries, Falcon and the Winter Soldier. On the show, he finally accepted the responsibility of Captain America’s shield after much self-doubt.
It’s currently unknown whether Chris Evans will reprise his role of Steve Rogers, who served as the first Captain America, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), in the anticipated drama. Malcolm Spellman, the creator and head writer of Captain America’s first sequel, 2014’s Winter Soldier, is penning the script for the series’ next entry with Dalan Musson, a staff writer on Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Captain America 4 will mark Onah’s first time working on an MCU project. The filmmaker, who was born in Markurdi, Nigeria, lived in several countries around the world, due to being the son of a diplomat, before he settled in the U.S.
The helmer first garnered attention in his career when his shorts were screened at numerous festival. His NYU film school thesis movie also drew attention, as Spike Lee served as one of the project’s executive producers.
J.J. Abrams then hired Onah to direct a feature set in his Cloverfield franchise. The up-and-coming helmer then gained attention for Luce, an indie drama that’s based on J.C. Lee’s play of the same name, and allowed him to return to his roots as a filmmaker.
The movie, which starred Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Octavia Spencer, debuted at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. It then went on to receive three Indie Spirit Award nominations, including best director.
Onah most recently co-wrote the Jean-Michel Basquiat biopic Samo Lives, which will star Harrison as the titular artist. The filmmaker will also helm and produce the movie, as well as the college admissions thriller, Bad Genius.