Ryan Coogler, director of Black Panther, Creed, and Fruitvale Station, was handcuffed and detained by Atlanta police in January after a misunderstanding led an employee to think he was robbing the bank. According to Variety, Coogler entered a Bank of America branch to make a transaction wearing a hat, sunglasses and a COVID face mask. In an effort to be low-key about carrying a lot of cash, he slipped the teller a note that reportedly ready as follows:
I would like to withdraw $12,000 cash from my checking account. Please do the money count somewhere else. I’d like to be discreet.
The teller misunderstood the situation and triggered the alarm. Police arrived, detained two people waiting outside for Coogler, and handcuffed the director himself until the situation was sorted out.
A Bank of America spokesperson says that they have apologized to Coogler and that the situation should never have happened. Coogler says that Bank of America has addressed the situation to his satisfaction and that he has moved on. Both parties agree that the incident never should have occurred. Great to have it resolved, but very scary to think what could have happened.
Coogler is in Atlanta working on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The sequel is due in theaters November 11, 2022.
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