Six Directors That Should Direct ‘BLACK PANTHER’
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).
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Offered Role In ‘JUPITER ASCENDING’ Starring Milla Kunis And Channing Tatum
Vulture reports on some story details about The Wachowskis next film Jupiter Ascending. I won’t post them (possible spoilers) because they could be completely false or a misdirection but feel free to click on the link to see for yourselves. The science fiction film will star Mila Kunis (Black Swan) and Channing Tatum (Bitter Pill, Magic Mike, Haywire) along with an offering going out to Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Joe is quickly gathering some impressive sci-fi credits with Inception and Looper not to mention a decent sized role in The Dark Knight Rises.
The Matrix creators will have their recently wrapped sci-fi film Cloud Atlas that they co-directed with Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) released on December 6th 2012. It stars Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Tom Hanks, Hugh Grant Jim Sturgess, Jim Broadbent, Ben Whishaw, Susan Sarandon, James D’Arcy and Keith David.
Tom Hank Joins Cloud Atlas
Deadline reports that Tom Hanks has officially attached himself to Cloud Atlas. The film based on the book by is being written and co-directed by The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer(Run Lola Run). Other actors rumored or linked for the film include Halle Berry, James McAvoy, Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving. The production starts in September and with the announcement of Hanks joining more official casting news is expected soon.
RUMOR: Keanu Confirms Two More Matrix Films & Will Smith In Hood?
AICN news is reporting from a source who heard Keanu Reeves speak on the current status of projects from the Wachowskis. He went on to confirm two more Matrix films have treatments written. The directing duo have locked in Will Smith for Hood. Their fututristic take on Robin Hood which Reeves says Warner Bros. bought for $5 Million. Curiously enough there is no mention of their gestating project CN-9. While I’m interested in anything involving the Wachowskis I’m not how of much this is true.
“Says he met the Wachowski’s (no emphasis on the word brothers), for lunch over Christmas and stated that they had completed work on a two picture script treatment that would see him return to the world of the Matrix as Neo. Says the brothers have met with Jim Cameron to discuss the pro’s and con’s of 3D and are looking to deliver something which has never been seen again. Keanu stated that he still has an obligation to the fans to deliver a movie worthy of the title “The Matrix” and he swears this time that the treatment will truly revolutionise the action genre like the first movie. Wachowski’s are working on a movie called Cloud Atlas at the moment, once that concludes they will talk again.”
“Wachowski’s had just sold the most expensive script in history to Warner Brothers. a modern futuristic take on the legend of Robin Hood. Says he understands WB paid $5 million for the rights and that from what the Wachowski’s have told him, it will be an action movie that would have the same impact visually and technically that Terminator 2 had. Confirmed that Will Smith has agreed to headline the picture.”
UPDATE: This story has been proven as being completely false.
Offers Go Out For Tom Tykwer’s Cloud Atlas
The Playlist (via Production Weekly) reports that offers have gone out for Tom Tykwer’s (Run Lola Run) Cloud Atlas which is being produced by the Wachowskis (Matrix) and is based on the novel by David Mitchell. The actors include Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Natalie Portman (previously rumored), James McAvoy and Sir Ian McKellen.
CINEMA INVASION 