My
TEN...
10.
Nick Park - The director of many a Wallace & Gromit film. I'm not sure if he could handle a massive $150-200 million + sized film. If he could, however, I think he'd be a terrific choice for the job.
9.
Danny Boyle - Not only does Boyle seem like the kind of guy who might be interested in taking on a massive hollywood blockbuster like Harry Potter, but he also would probably do a good job at the helm. He's got a sharp eye, a knack for directing actors, and the geekiness within himself.
8.
Frank Darabont - He'd be terrific, a knockout of a matchup. Unfortunatley, he doesn't direct other people's scripts... So that could be a problem for the happily employed Mr. Steve Kloves. Whatever, Darabont is the shiznit, but he's not #1!
7.
Terry Gilliam - This controversial director was actually approached and went into discussion about directing the first one before it ultimately went to Chris Columbus... Which was a solid safe choice back in the day. To be fair to the producers, Gilliam probably wouldn't have created a solid launching point for the series... but god knows that he'd wrap it up in a way that would completely set itself apart from the rest of the series... something that the book did already with just it's basic structure.
6.
Michel Gondry - This visual maestro directed such classic films like Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind and The Science of Sleep. His next film, starring Jack Black and Mos Def as video store clerks who reenact movies for an old woman... seems to skew more towards the mainstream comedy. This leads me to believe that somewhere deep inside, this indie/video king has the desire to create a magical visual feast... and have the content of the film be what's magical!
5.
Curtis Hanson - Hanson is a cinematic chameleon, hoping from one genre to another from L.A. Confidential to Wonder Boys to 8 Mile to In Her Shoes to Lukcy You and now's the rides over and it's time to make a movie that says: "I CAN DO ANYTHING!". He'd make the movie classic in every sense of the word and the world would be better for it.
4.
Guillermo Del Toro - The brutual irony about Del Toro is that before Pan's Labyrinth, I don't think I would've favored him so highly and make him an instant frontrunner for who I'd like the see in the director's chair come the first day of rolling film. However, it's because of Pan's Labyrinth that he's not #1 on the list. He's already done the magic... and it wouldn't be a return to a family like it would be for Cuaron. If he got the job, I'd be happier than someone VERY VERY happy!
... I just wouldn't mind seeing someone a little more 'outside the box' step up to plate.
3.
Sam Mendes - Pretty much the cream of the crop in terms of British filmmakers. I'm not sure why, but for some reason I feel like Mendes or someone comparable to him in talent and dedication MUST be hired to direct the final film. I want a film that goes for it and doesn't hold anything back... in terms of emotions and character moments. Mendes might be a bit out of the series' league, but I'm praying he's a fan of the books and thinks to himself "come on, it'd be fun..." He's also got a ton of theatre background and there could be a draw to work with up-and-coming talent like Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.
2.
Alfonso Cuaron - Go watch Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and you'll have seen the ONLY film thus far in the series that has gone out of it's way to be fresh, exciting, and... frankly, magical. Any doubts I would've had about his action abilities are now kaput thanks to Children of Men. The man is a mastermind and an auteur, so it'd be a shame to let such a connected piece of the franchise go to waste.
1. BRAD BIRD - I'm sorry, but after the trio of practically flawless animated films (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille), Bird has essentially staked his claim in being a deity amongst far less talented and worthy humans. Now he's off to do a big LIVE ACTION film about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It's clear that this man has BIG aspirations and they probably go a lot further than Harry Potter, but it never hurts to get a boost to make that trip to massive mainstream success all the more exciting. He's a classic storyteller with the eyes of something that has a lot better vision, talent, color scheme detecting, etc... than me! This man is the one to watch... therefore David Heyman and the WB should make our lives easier by calling up Brad and just saying "look, we need you to make the last one the most magical, intense, and cathartic film EVER." By incorporating Mr. Bird into the legacy of the Harry Potter series, the magic won't seem as phony.
SEriously Adventures of the Baron Munchausen is pretty much better than any fantasy adventure with a kid Spielberg would make 
