We learned this week that Marvel Studios is looking finally put Black Panther into production as the studio is happy with the script from Mark Bailey. Yesterday it was revealed that The Russo Brothers are in talks to direct Captain America 2. It's only a matter of time before we start hearing talk of directors for Panther. I've come up with my own short-list of directors along with some honorable mentions that include some up and coming television directors.
STEVE MCQUEEN: McQueen has to be the hottest non-studio director at the moment. His two films Shame and Hunger starring Michael Fassbender have been critical favorites (mine as well) placing him in a very special place as a director. Allowing him to make his passion projects instead of being under the thumb of a studio. However, Marvel has been very director friendly in it's short time as a studio. If Steve ever considered making a studio film he couldn't go wrong with Marvel Studios. I could see Black Panther a big enough challenge for Steve that he might actually entertain the thought. While an NC-17 movie like Shame isn't a credit you would attribute to a family-friendly film. Alan Taylor who is directing Thor has a rather background in adult material.
DANIEL ESPINOSA: The Swedish director currently only has two films under his belt but Daniel Espinosa (Safe House, Snabba Cash) has been making a name for himself as a very stylish director. His slick shooting style and stunning visuals seem pitch perfect for the superhero genre. Daniel had been in talks to helm X-Men First Class and The Wolverine but was ultimately looked over. His next film will be the Yakuza thriller The Outsider and should cement him as director watch out for. Marvel doesn't keep their directors around for sequels (the exceptions are Favreau/Whedon) so it could be another project to get Espinosa exposure on an international level. It's expected that the film would spend sometime on location in the now studio friendly South Africa (doubling for Wakanda landscapes). Where Daniel spent a bulk of the Safe House production shooting.
TOM TYKWER: German director Tom Tykwer has had a mixed career. He knocked it out with his film Run Lola Run which was one of the most visual foreign films from the 90's. He would later jump into studio thrillers with gorgeous serial killer film Perfume: The Story of A Murder and the less than perfect The International. Tom recently co-directed Cloud Atlas with The Wachowskis which should bring him back into the spotlight. He could be in a position to demand more money than the television directors Marvel has been recently hiring. That aspect might rule him out as Marvel plays hardball with contracts.
DAVID TWOHY: If I had to choose a director who could easily pull-off Wakanda's scale and mix of tribal/advanced technology aesthetics it would be David Twohy (Pitch Black, Chronicles of Riddick, Riddick 3). Say what you will about the Riddick franchise he's been able to create a rather large world along with a very solid anti-hero. The sheer detail involved in Chronicles should be enough to land him the gig. David has a similar artistry as Captain America director Joe Johnston. Twohy also was involved with writing The Fugitive which is one of the best non-genre films starring Harrison Ford. He also directed Chris Hemsworth in one of his first Hollywood productions A Perfect Getaway.
JOE WRIGHT: I wouldn't have considered Wright (Atonement) as a director to make a film like this until Hanna. The film is far from perfect but it's entertaining as hell, helped by it's interesting father/daughter dynamic. A similar dynamic is explored in with T'challa and his father. Avengers used Wright's director of photography so I'm sure he's on their radar. The only problem is that Wright is a director who focuses more on his personal films rather than being a hired gun director. He's worked with two of the major Marvel actors Robert "Iron Man" Downey Jr. and James "Professor X" McAvoy, so it's possible he's on Marvel's radar.
JOE CORNISH: Yes, Cornish is a comedic director but considering Marvel has hired Edgar Wright (Spaced) for Ant-Man and The Russo Brothers (Community, Arrested Development) for Captain America 2 it's very possible to see him land the gig. Joe got high praises for his fantastic British alien invasion comedy Attack The Block. He's also been successful as a writer working with Edgar Wright on both Tintin and Ant-Man. I assume if Mark Bailey's script is as good as it's rumored to be it could be nice to have a director who is able to add sutle humor in the takes or add scenes on the spot. Each of the Marvel directors have a unique vision and Joe is no exception.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Patty Jenkins (Monster, The Killing), Antoine Fuqua (Brooklyn's Finest, Training Day, Shooter, Replacement Killers), Brian Kirk (Luther, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Luck, Dexter, Tudors), Sam Miller (Luther, Spooks, Walking Dead) and Allen Coulter (Rome, Sopranos, X-Files, Six Feet Under, Sons of Anarchy).
