Dope took Sundance by a storm last year. The crime dramedy, following the adventures of Inglewood high schoolers, put Shameik Moore and director Rick Famuyiwa in the limelight. Not long after, it was rumored that Famuyiwa was meeting with Marvel Studios to discuss helming Black Panther. Now, it seems the director has his sights set on DC Films.
Famuyiwa has started following the Twitter accounts of DC Comics, Geoff Johns, the Wonder Woman film, Gal Gadot, the Suicide Squad film, Zack Snyder, Ben Affleck, Ray Fisher, and Jason Momoa. Geoff Johns, now the guy at DC Films, reciprocated this. Maybe this is all one big coincidence, or perhaps Famuyiwa is just another fan, but I don't think so.
There is one other connection here. Late last year, Famuyiwa was set to write and direct a Greatest American Hero remake for Phil Lord and Chris Miller at FOX, where the pair are building a budding television empire (The Last Man on Earth, Son of Zorn). Lord and Miller are still producers on The Flash and wrote the story from which Seth Grahame-Smith wrote the screenplay. Many were puzzled when Grahame-Smith, a first time filmmaker, was initially selected for the project. It's not much of a stretch to suggest that Lord and Miller made the choice after their collaboration on the The Lego Batman Movie. It is unclear what the status of the Greatest American Hero pilot is, but maybe this collaboration has opened the Flash door for Famuyiwa.
In any case, Famuyiwa's energetic direction and pop sensibilities could be just what the Flash needs. Of the announced DC projects, this one will likely feature the youngest cast, led by Ezra Miller and perhaps will include an appearance from Ray Fisher.
Famuyiwa is currently garnering Emmy buzz for his latest project, Confirmation, which debuted last month on HBO and chronicles Anita Hill's testimonies during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court hearings.
What do you think? Coincidence?