History of Ryan Coogler in Timeline
Ryan Kyle Coogler is a highly acclaimed American filmmaker known for his work on films such as "Fruitvale Station," "Creed," and "Black Panther." He has received numerous awards and nominations, including four NAACP Image Awards, four Black Reel Awards, and nominations for two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Grammy Award. Coogler's films often explore themes of race, identity, and social justice.
May 23, 1986: Birth of Ryan Coogler
Ryan Kyle Coogler was born on May 23, 1986. He would go on to become a celebrated filmmaker.
1989: Loma Prieta earthquake interrupts World Series
On October 17, 1989, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake, known as the Loma Prieta earthquake, struck the San Francisco Bay Area, interrupting Game 3 of the 1989 World Series between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants. This event is the subject of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "The Day the Series Stopped," for which Coogler served as executive producer.
March 2004: Coogler Transfers to Sacramento State
After Saint Mary's College discontinued its football program in March 2004, Ryan Coogler transferred to Sacramento State University, where he received a scholarship and played football for four years.
January 1, 2009: Shooting of Oscar Grant
On January 1, 2009, Oscar Grant was fatally shot by a police officer at the Fruitvale BART station in Oakland, California. This event would later become the basis for Ryan Coogler's film "Fruitvale Station."
2009: Locks Screens at Tribeca Film Festival
Ryan Coogler directed the short film "Locks" in 2009, which was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and won the Dana and Albert Broccoli Award for Filmmaking Excellence.
2011: Fig Wins Awards, Gap Wins Jack Nicholson Award
In 2011, Ryan Coogler's short film "Fig" won the HBO Short Film Competition at the American Black Film Festival and the DGA Student Film Award, and was nominated for Outstanding Independent Short Film at the Black Reel Awards. Another short film he directed, "Gap," won the Jack Nicholson Award for Achievement in Directing that same year.
January 2013: Coogler Announces Graphic Novel and Young Adult Novel
Ryan Coogler revealed in January 2013 that he was working on both a graphic novel and a young adult novel.
July 20, 2013: Fruitvale Station Theatrical Release
Ryan Coogler's film "Fruitvale Station" was released in theaters on July 20, 2013. The film, produced on a budget of $900,000, grossed over $17 million worldwide.
2013: Critical Acclaim for Fruitvale Station
In 2013, "Fruitvale Station" received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for its direction, acting, and powerful storytelling. The film appeared on numerous critics' top ten lists for the best films of the year.
2013: Coogler Named on Time's 30 Under 30
In 2013, Ryan Coogler was included in Time magazine's list of the 30 people under 30 who are changing the world.
2013: Fruitvale Station Premiere and Awards
In 2013, Ryan Coogler's debut feature film, "Fruitvale Station," premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. dramatic film. It also won the Best First Film award at the Cannes Film Festival.
2015: Release of Creed
Ryan Coogler co-wrote and directed "Creed," a spin-off of the "Rocky" series, released in 2015.
2015: Critical and Commercial Success of Creed
Ryan Coogler's film "Creed" was released in 2015 to critical acclaim and commercial success, grossing over $173 million worldwide.
2016: Coogler's Marriage
Ryan Coogler married Zinzi Evans in 2016. They have two children together.
2018: Black Panther Receives Critical Acclaim and Box Office Success
"Black Panther" achieved both critical acclaim and remarkable box office success upon its release in 2018, garnering recognition for its representation of African-Americans and themes of Afrofuturism.
2018: Coogler Becomes First African-American Marvel Studios Director with Black Panther
In 2018, Ryan Coogler became the first African-American director for Marvel Studios with the release of "Black Panther."
2018: Release of Black Panther
Ryan Coogler co-wrote and directed the Marvel film "Black Panther," released in 2018. It was a critical and commercial success, breaking numerous box office records.
2018: Coogler Named Time's Person of the Year Runner-Up and Included in Time 100
Ryan Coogler was named the runner-up for Time magazine's Person of the Year and was included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world in 2018.
February 2021: Proximity Media Signs Deal with Disney
In February 2021, Ryan Coogler's production company, Proximity Media, secured an exclusive five-year deal with Disney to produce content, including a Disney+ television series set in Wakanda, the fictional nation from "Black Panther."
2021: Coogler Co-Produces Judas and the Black Messiah
In 2021, Ryan Coogler co-produced the biographical drama "Judas and the Black Messiah," directed by Shaka King.
2021: Founding of Proximity Media
In 2021, Ryan Coogler, his wife Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian established Proximity Media, a multimedia company focused on creating event-driven content across various platforms.
January 2022: Banking incident and mistaken detention
In January 2022, Coogler was mistakenly detained by police in Atlanta, Georgia, after attempting to withdraw cash. A teller misinterpreted his actions, leading to the incident. Coogler was released after his identity was verified. The bank issued an apology.
November 11, 2022: Release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Ryan Coogler's "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" was released in the United States on November 11, 2022. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning five Academy Award nominations and one win.
2022: Release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Ryan Coogler co-wrote and directed the sequel to "Black Panther," titled "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," which was released in 2022.
January 2024: Announcement of Coogler's untitled period film
In January 2024, it was announced that Ryan Coogler would collaborate with Michael B. Jordan for the fifth time on an untitled period film based on Coogler's original script.
March 7, 2025: Release of untitled period film
On March 7, 2025, Warner Bros. Pictures is scheduled to release an untitled period film directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan. This marks the fifth collaboration between Coogler and Jordan.
