Ava DuVernay to helm Marvel film

Los Angeles: "Selma" director Ava DuVernay could become the first woman to direct a Marvel Studios movie.

According to The Wrap, she is in talks with the studio about directing one of its upcoming films, likely Black Panther or Captain Marvel.

It has been suggested that Black Panther is the more likely project for DuVernay due to its release coming first. The film is set to open in July 2018. DuVernay was tipped for an Oscar nomination for her work on "Selma" at the beginning of the year, but she controversially missed out.

Patty Jenkins was the first woman hired to direct a Marvel film when she joined "Thor: The Dark World", but she left the project over creative differences and was replaced by Alan Taylor.

It was recently announced that Chadwick Boseman will make his first appearance as Black Panther in "Captain America: Civil War", alongside Paul Rudd's "Ant-Man' and other well known superheroes.