Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
letterboxd.com/92nathan
For years, there’s been a belief that once a director steps into franchise filmmaking, especially the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they risk losing the creative voice that made them stand out in the first place.
But filmmakers like Chloé Zhao and Ryan Coogler have followed an unusual path.
After directing major Marvel films like Eternals and Black Panther, both have now received Academy Award nominations for Best Director, joining Kenneth Branagh as the only MCU directors to achieve this recognition.
Does working inside a massive studio system erase a filmmaker’s identity, or can it actually prepare them to tell larger, more ambitious stories?
This video explores how Zhao and Coogler navigated blockbuster filmmaking without losing their authorship, and whether their success represents a new path forward for directors working within IP-driven franchises.
letterboxd.com/92nathan
For years, there’s been a belief that once a director steps into franchise filmmaking, especially the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they risk losing the creative voice that made them stand out in the first place.
But filmmakers like Chloé Zhao and Ryan Coogler have followed an unusual path.
After directing major Marvel films like Eternals and Black Panther, both have now received Academy Award nominations for Best Director, joining Kenneth Branagh as the only MCU directors to achieve this recognition.
Does working inside a massive studio system erase a filmmaker’s identity, or can it actually prepare them to tell larger, more ambitious stories?
This video explores how Zhao and Coogler navigated blockbuster filmmaking without losing their authorship, and whether their success represents a new path forward for directors working within IP-driven franchises.
