James Gunn Is The Director!

[AverageMan]

Why not continue what works....Leigh Whannel. A horror director.

Or Mike Flanagan, who I think is one of the best in the business.

I think I'm in a COVID-19 lock down blackout. I couldn't for the life of me remember why I'd heard of Mike Flanagan... had to Google him.
Haunting of Hill House was amazing. Certainly deserves a go at drafting a script for a tentpole.

 

[Sawyer]

I love Flanagan, but I’m not sure I can see his skill-set translating to something like this.

Then again, I never could’ve predicted something as funny and family friendly as Shazam could come from the director of Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation, so...

 

[flickchick85]

I personally don't want a horror director on Superman. I liked Shazam! well enough, but Sandberg's horror flourishes on it felt out of place to me in that film.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

I think I'm in a COVID-19 lock down blackout. I couldn't for the life of me remember why I'd heard of Mike Flanagan... had to Google him.
Haunting of Hill House was amazing. Certainly deserves a go at drafting a script for a tentpole.

There's some chance Flanagan would absolutely crush it because he's one of the best genre directors working today but he doesn't immediately call out to me for Supes.

All I want out of life is a Mike Flanagan Hellblazer film though. Shame JJ presumably has dibs on him for JLD.

 

[TMP98]

There's some chance Flanagan would absolutely crush it because he's one of the best genre directors working today but he doesn't immediately call out to me for Supes.

All I want out of life is a Mike Flanagan Hellblazer film though. Shame JJ presumably has dibs on him for JLD.

JJ's only producing JLD... thankfully

 

[GreenKToo]

There are several directors I could see that would probably hit a solo supes film out of the park.
Jackson
Raimi
Howard
Bird
And yes, JJ.

 

[batman44]

Mike Flanagan said he wanted to make a Superman film since he was a kid for the people who mentioned him. I think he's an interesting choice.

 

[Vaibow]

what Flanagan can do, is give a real world villain that is truly creepy... imagine Brainaic as a humanoid creature, locked up in Area 51 for years, wires in and out of his head, being tested on daily, finally he relents and works with his captors, given them the secrets of AI, WIFI, so much tech... to create the world we have now, only for him to be secretly doing it to plan his escape - as he sees everything through their eyes, being hooked up to system and what not.. eventually, once lex corp goes live with a new AI, it's then at brainiacs disposal to hold the world/city at ransom, asking for the superman to rescue him and release him... only for brainiac to show his disgust to the kryptonian vowing to be back...

That way we get a real world superman story, focusing on clark, the DP, his relationships around him, we get a lex corp story line, with a good final 3rd as the world is about to be 'terminated'.

 

[Sawyer]

10 Filmmakers Who Can Reboot Superman

Lotta talent listed there, but this list is downright deranged.

 

[Sterling Archer]

There are several directors I could see that would probably hit a solo supes film out of the park.
Jackson
Raimi
Howard
Bird
And yes, JJ.

Jackson hasn't directed a good fiction film since Return of the King. Also he would never do it. Doubt he has any interest in directing a blockbuster ever again after the Hobbit movies practically broke him.

Sam Raimi's Superman would just feel like his Spider-Man in a cape. I couldn't see him making any creative decisions that would be different from the ones he already made for Spider-Man. Some people would be into that because those movies are beloved for some reason, but not my thing, and I don't think Raimi wants to retread that ground.

Ron Howard would be fine but a safe and uninspired choice.

I still don't know why people suggest Brad Bird for these things other than he made the Incredibles, which (hot take incoming) is just fine at best. Incredibles 2 was awful. He made Mission Impossible 4 which was great, but not what I want in a Superman movie. The Iron Giant is a masterpiece, but just because it references Superman doesn't mean he should direct a Superman movie.

Anyone but JJ, please. His films are complete style over substance. He's a shallow wannabe Spielberg.

People hoping for big name directors are in my opinion mistaken. A character like this needs a hungry, up and coming director with a fresh voice. All the names you listed would create an OK but ultimately stale Superman movie in my opinion.

 

[C Prometheus]

I’m surprised no one’s posted in this thread yet after the news of Abrams and Coates being the film’s producer and screenwriter.

With that update in mind, especially considering that they’re apparently planning for Superman to be black, I have a feeling that changes the discussion a fair bit for who makes sense to direct the film compared to the names thrown out a month ago.

Off hand, the first two names I think of are Barry Jenkins and Shaka King.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Barry Jenkins and Shaka King are great suggestions. I would also add Lee Daniels and Steve McQueen to the list.

And since I don’t think New Gods is ever happening, they might as well talk to Ava Duvernay and she if she’s interested. I think she could do a great job. And before someone swoops in and says “DURRRR WRINKLE IN TIME SUCKED,” yes, I’m aware. I’ve also seen Selma and When They See Us, which were both a million times better than any Zack Snyder movie.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Barry Jenkins and Shaka King are great suggestions. I would also add Lee Daniels and Steve McQueen to the list.

And since I don’t think New Gods is ever happening, they might as well talk to Ava Duvernay and she if she’s interested. I think she could do a great job. And before someone swoops in and says “DURRRR WRINKLE IN TIME SUCKED,” yes, I’m aware. I’ve also seen Selma and When They See Us, which were both a million times better than any Zack Snyder movie.

The ignorance on display by people who think Ava is a bad director because of a single wonky movie amazes me.

 

[Deck Rickard]

The ignorance on display by people who think Ava is a bad director because of a single wonky movie amazes me.

Seriously. Especially when it’s people who hero worship the guy who made Sucker Punch.

 

[emielaen]

I really want her New Gods, but we’ll see. She’s busy, but she’s not directing as much stuff as people seem to think. A lot of EP stuff.

And the slander is crazy. She has a masterpiece of a miniseries and documentary under a belt, and Selma is great. All better than any comic book film imo.

& a black director would be great to see here, but I don’t think a shortlist should be limited. McQueen would probably be my favorite rn though. I’m still getting through Small Axe, but goddamn is he utilizing every minute of these films perfectly. Not a dull one yet.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

McQueen is amazing but I’d be shocked if he didn’t think superheroes and superhero movies were garbage.

I’d love it though, he’s one of the modern greats. Shame is in my top ten favourite films.

 

[emielaen]

Yeah, you right. Haha

I still have to see his earlier work: Shame and Hunger. But I’ve really liked/loved everything else.

Lee Isaac Chung is a pretty good one. Alma Har’el, McQuarrie still, Rees, Lowery, Talbot, Jenkins (Lion King 2 is to get more OG Searchlight stuff hopefully, so I’ll live with that decision), and plenty more.

 

[flickchick85]

In terms of black directors, I'd be all for Ava, but I'm still rooting for her New Gods to see the light of day. I love Steve McQueen but I don't think his sensibilities suit Superman at all.

Stephen Williams is a TV director who did some great work on premium shows like Counterpart, Westworld, and especially Watchmen.

For a bigger name, F. Gary Gray deserves a shot at blockbuster redemption after that MiB movie, imo. He's talented, is no stranger to action/vfx, or to crowd-pleasers for that matter, and I think he could kill it.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Yeah, you right. Haha

I still have to see his earlier work: Shame and Hunger. But I’ve really liked/loved everything else.

Masterpieces. There’s this phenomenal, one take twenty-ish minute conversation between Fassbender and Liam Cunningham in Hunger that’s just peak acting, writing and filmmaking. McQueen and Fassbender deserve a place among the great actor/director duos.

 

[emielaen]

Masterpieces. There’s this phenomenal, one take twenty-ish minute conversation between Fassbender and Liam Cunningham in Hunger that’s just peak acting, writing and filmmaking. McQueen and Fassbender deserve a place among the great actor/director duos.

Sounds like I should’ve watched this years ago.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Sounds like I should’ve watched this years ago.

It’s an excellent film, just... be prepared. It’s not a movie for the squeamish.

 

[BobJM]

I like J.D. Dillard for the role; he gained some popularity for his take on the superhero genre with Sleight, and has since worked in television directing episodes of The Twilight Zone and The Outsider. Dillard is at work developing a new Star Wars project at the moment, but the trades did very clearly note that he's not tapped to direct.

 

[SwordOfMorning]

Gonna throw Steven Caple Jr. into the mix. His work on Creed II was treated pretty dismissively in part because he's not a flashy stylist like Coogler but there was a quiet intimacy to it alongside the fun melodrama. Plus, his handling of the relationship stuff was perfect and that is a prerequisite for a good Superman director.

 

[BobJM]

Staple Jr. is a good pull.

With F. Gary Gray, I'm a bit more apprehensive. Straight Outta Compton was great, but MIB International was not. Neither was Fate of the Furious. Nor Be Cool (though I love that soundtrack!).

I like Rick Famuyima too (he's actually my pick for MCU's eventual X-Men reboot), but I wonder if his experience w/ Flash soured him on working within the DCEU? He seems to be getting along quite well with the Disney folks over at The Mandalorian, which is why I still him sticking in those universes.

Gina Prince-Bythewood of The Old Guard, Love & Basketball, and Beyond the Lights could be interesting as well, but still not quite decided on her for a Superman flick.

 

[Eddie Dean]

F. Gary Gray is, and I say this lovingly, a bit of a hack. He's a very solid craftsman, but I'd like someone with more of a voice and who's a bit hungrier.