Ryan Coogler. Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney Ryan Coogler has spoken out against Senate Bill 202, the widely condemned new Georgia voting legislation, in a guest column for Deadline, though production on the Black Panther sequel will remain in the state. “As an African-American, and as a citizen, I oppose all attempts, explicit and otherwise, to shrink the electorate and reduce access to the ballot,” Coogler wrote.
Coogler’s column follows the news that the upcoming Will Smith–led Apple TV+ movie Emancipation will not shoot in Georgia because of SB202, with Smith and director Antoine Fuqua saying in a joint statement, “We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access.” The controversy has also led to the MLB moving the All-Star Game from Atlanta.