Nia DaCosta, Barrier-Breaking Director of The Marvels, on Navigating the Blockbuster Machine

NIA DaCosta is the first Black woman to direct a Marvel movie.

The 30-year-old director of The Marvels is a writer-director used to a certain level of autonomy.

Working with Marvel had been a long-held dream for her, but there would be risks.

Ryan Coogler suggested that she just be herself.

The Marvels is one of the few female-fronted films in the studio's superhero universe.

The first Black woman to direct a film that opened at number one in the box office.

DaCosta is pleased with the multiplicity of places she could put her stamp on the characters.

At $130 million , The Marvels is the highest-budgeted film ever helmed by a Black woman.

DaCosta is also attached to direct an adaptation of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s novel The Water Dancer .

She plans to take a break after eight years of working constantly for eight years .