“Candyman” director DaCosta is the first black woman to debut at #1 in the US: NPR

It’s a good week to be director Nia D’Costa. It wasn’t just her new movie, the horror movie candy manHaving a fantastic opening weekend, she made history in the process, becoming the first black female director to debut at #1 at the US box office.

Before DaCosta, Ava DuVernay was the closest to taking the lead, Opening at No. 2 in 2018 With Wrinkle in time.

candy man, an update of the 1992 horror classic of the same name, opened in theaters nationwide on Friday, ending the weekend with more than $22 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Dacosta candy man Sets urban legend in contemporary Chicago and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (previously seen on HBO’s guards) as protagonist Anthony McCoy, an artist whose career aspirations have led to dangerous places.

DaCosta directed and co-wrote the film Get out Director Jordan Peele and Wayne Rosenfeld, one of the executive producers of BlacKkKlansman. The premiere alongside the movie wasSocial Impact Initiative,” which is a campaign created to promote conversations about issues explored in the film, such as gentrification.

candy manDacosta’s box office success and historical achievement are particularly impressive given the current climate. Cinemas are still RecoveringAs the epidemic continues. Last year’s closings Hit the film industry hard, But as Theaters reopen Over the past year with new safety measures in place, industry experts are anticipating an eventual comeback.

Next up for DaCosta? She joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe after that signed on Last year as director of marvels, sequel to 2019 Captain Marvel which are currently being produced, according to final date. It’s another step in making history for the 31-year-old director and screenwriter: marvels It would make her the first black woman to sit at the head of a Marvel movie.

DaCosta said in an interview with DaCosta that the transition from horror to action was a refreshing change of topic Entertainment Weekly Last month.

“Working on it is definitely less traumatic,” she said. “But this movie also deals with specific, personal and sometimes sad things. But… it was nice working in a different world for sure.”