Interesting Choices for Comic Book Movie Directors

People are starting to wonder if there is such a thing as star power anymore when it comes to movies.  For instance, do you want to see a movie because of who is starring in it or because of the concept/property?  I know I'll see any MCU/DCEU movie no matter who is in it.  However, I will see certain movies just because of an actor.  Maybe that's happening less and less lately.

One thing I do know is, that I definitely wanted to see Creed, Kong: Skull Island, and look forward to seeing Thor: Ragnorok because of the directors of those films.  So maybe directors have some pull too?  Here are some scenarios I've concocted where I'd be excited for a comic book movie based on who was directing!

Director/Property:
Black Widow directed by Lexi Alexander

The Reasoning:
I will defend my stance that Black Widow is a dope character in the MCU till the day I die.  I like how she bounces off all of the characters and can throw them hands or trick you into giving up information.  Where Lexi comes into play is the fight choreography.  If Lexi wanted to direct a Black Widow film I feel like we'd get some dope action with real impact and grit.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
Black Widow already comes with a star in Scarlett Johansson so maybe Lexi could find a way for Elijah Wood, who she worked with on Green Street, to be a villain?

Director/Property:
Shazam directed by Brad Bird

The Reasoning:
I might be the only one who likes Tomorrowland and that's ok.  People's enjoyment of that movie isn't what's important.  It's the fact that I think Brad would knock all the scenes with Billy Batson out of the park because all the child actors in Tomorrowland were on point!  More than that, I think Brad Bird is excellent at world building and creating wonder.  Whether it's Iron Giant or Mission:Impossible Ghost Protocol, Brad knows adventure.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I'm all for Armie Hammer as Shazam!  So if we're talking about people Brad has worked with, I'd suggest Thomas Robinson, who plays young George Clooney in Tomorrowland, as Billy Batson... depending on how young he still looks.

Director/Property:
The Question directed by Ehtan & Joel Coen

The Reasoning:
My pitch to the Coens to please direct a Question film is that they can do it through the lens of No Country for Old Man.  Someone who sees the impact of Batman in Gotham and worries that the old ways of law & order are passing them by.  I know that's not really Vic Sage's origin but I bet no one would be mad.  Seeing this Vic slowly get closer to the vigilantism of Batman could be a compelling film for the Coens.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I wanted to see a Jonah Hex film by The Coens but Josh Brolin is already a Coen collaborator so that's not that fun.  Let's see Matt Damon join his friend in the DCEU as The Question!

Director/Property:
Green Lantern Corps directed by Ava DuVernay

The Reasoning:
I'm basing this off of the solid work Ava put into Selma.  I legitimately was surprised by the explosion scene and I thought she handled the fighting (aka police beatings) really well.  They were visceral and affecting.  I'm also counting on the fact that Ava's second feature film (not Documentary) is a big budget sci-fi film.  Which means she'll have experience with a big budget.  Sometimes the first big budget film for a director used to modest budgets can get out of hand but by the time A Wrinkle in Time is out, Ava will have the experience she needs, and will have probably proven herself to naysayers, to pull off a Green Lantern Corps movie.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I know I said I wanted Mahershala Ali in the role of John Stewart, but Ava's Martin Luther King Jr., David Oyelowo would also be a pretty good choice.

Director/Property:
Static Shock directed by Rick Famuyiwa

The Reasoning:
Rick was supposed to do The Flash and that definitely made sense to me based on the energy and frantic nature of most scenes in that movie.  He has moved on and I'm happy that he wasn't saddled with making a movie he didn't want to.  However, there may be room for him to work in the DCEU yet! Static Shock is a perfect property for Rick.  Rick didn't just come out of nowhere.  His movies usually have a coming of age in the hood aspect to them.  The Wood being a great example of that.  I think the youthful energy Rick brings to his movies mixed with his mastery of stories about comraderie would be a great fit for this property.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I know he's on his way to voicing Miles Morales soon, but, Rick's Dope lead, Shameik Moore, should be Virgil "Static Shock" Hawkins too.

Director/Property:
Supergirl directed by David Fincher

The Reasoning:
I liked David's Girl with the Dragon Tattoo because his Lisbeth was close enough to being a superhero.  If  DCEU wanted to stand out from the CW's show, which I love without a hint of irony, they could go David Fincher style grit.  I'm thinking something like Supergirl's first encounter with humans and her fight to find her little cousin Kal-El?  I really like David Fincher visuals and definitely feel like he could make something special with the Supergirl property.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I'm all for David and Rooney Mara working together again and having Rooney play Supergirl or the main villain of the movie.  Maybe someone like Silver Banshee?

Director/Property:
Blade directed by Antoine Fuqua

The Reasoning:
I know Antoine can shoot a fight scene because of the Equalizer so I'm more than down to see what he can do with a character like Blade.  I also appreciate the way Antoine doesn't shy away from brutality which would definitely be a big part of an R rated Blade movie.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I know Denzel would never do this, but since Antoine and Denzel Washington are clearly exploring old rough neck Denzel's career with Equalizer and Magnificent 7, maybe Antoine could convince Denzel Washington to play an ageing Blade who maybe passes the torch?

Director/Property:
Ghost Rider directed by Alex Garland

The Reasoning:
Alex is a great writer.  If you don't believe take a look at his IMDb!  But he can back it up with dope visuals.  That was clear in Ex Machina where he had instantly iconic imagery of Alicia Vikander's Ava.  I think that touch will be needed for a character like Ghost Rider who has a flaming head.  I think that Alex's past proves that he is a great fit for crafting the story and look of a future Ghost Rider film.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
Since Nicholas Cage ran Johnny Blaze into the ground and people seem to be digging Robbie Reyes, maybe Alex could get his Ex Machina lead, Oscar Isaac, to play Robbie or we could keep Gabriel Luna and have Oscar play a villain.

Director/Property:
Fantastic Four directed by F. Gary Gray

The Reasoning:
Yes Mr. Gray has done team action movies in the form of The Fate of the Furious & The Italian Job and I'm sure those movies will help him but I really liked the way F. Gary Gray portrayed the genisis of N.W.A. like each member was a superhero.  It was also great to see him deal with their bickering all while maintaining the sense that they bickered because they cared.  Straight Outta Compton was a movie about a family of superheroes without feeling sappy which I think is the issue with other cinematic interpretations of Fantastic Four.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
F. Gary Gray has worked with Charlize Theron twice now so I hope he can get her to commit to playing Sue Storm.  I also want to double down on the Michael B. Jordan decision that didn't bother anyone at all.  I want Gary's Eazy-E, Jason Mitchell to play Johnny Storm!

Director/Property:
Hawkgirl directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

The Reasoning:
Remember the amazing battle at the beginning of The Revenant... that's pretty much my pitch for Alejandro as Hawkgirl director.  That visceral battle is exactly what a Thanagarian battle should look like to me.  You know, with more winged-soldiers fighting.  I know Birdman is the obvious joke to make, but if we're being serious, it's the atmosphere that Inarritu created throughout The Revenant that makes me think he'd make a great Hawkgirl movie.  I picture it being about a warrior who has to leave what she knows (maybe to join the Justice League) or gets betrayed by the ones she knows (and then joins the Justice League).

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I'm going out on a limb here and assuming that the woman who plays Hugh Glass' wife in The Revenant, Grace Dove, can speak English.  If so, I'd love her see play Hawkgirl.

Director/Property:
Man of Steel 2 directed by Justin Lin

The Reasoning:
Justin Lin knows how to course correct a sinking franchise.  I seriously look forward to Fast & Furious movies and that's all thanks to Justin Lin's influence on the franchise.  He also made one of the most Star Trek Star Trek movies ever and stopped people complaining about Into Darkness, which I didn't mind but whatever.  I think Justin has a great handle on action and fun which is what the Superman franchise has needed especially in the 2000s.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
Justin worked with Zachary Quinto on Star Trek Beyond and Sung Kang during his run on the Fast & Furious films so I'd love to see either one of those guys play Brainiac in a proper sequel to Man of Steel!

Director/Property:
Nova directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller

The Reasoning:
Like most of the directors Phil Lord & Chirstopher Miller fall under the category of "keeping film interesting to me" or flat out "they have my money no matter what."  Lord & Miller are definitely in both categories up until this point for making some of the most unexpectedly funny stuff I've ever seen.  However I'm willing to bet that they are directing the upcoming Han Solo movie because they're not just funny but they have got great imaginations and can deliver on space adventures. [UPDATE... These guys got fired from the Han Solo Film with weeks left to shoot... but for the reasons I thought they'd make the perfect directors...]  So let's go with the way more involved and thoughtful than it needed to be LEGO Movie as an example of Lord & Miller's humour and knack for portraying fun new worlds.  What I know about Nova comes from that Spider-Man cartoon where Spider-Man, Nova, Luke Cage, White Tiger, and Iron Fist all go to the same school with Principal Coulson.  Nova seems like a good fit for Lord & Miller in that show but I wouldn't mind making him older and a bit more serious.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
Let's be honest, Channing Tatum isn't going to be Gambit.  Let's get him back with his 21 through 22 Jump Street directors and have him play Richard Rider in a Nova film!

Director/Property:
Martian Manhunter directed by Steve McQueen

The Reasoning:
I don't think Shame is Steve's best work. But what I do think is that it has a serious melancholy to it that is rooted in most characters feeling alone.  What better character for Mr. McQueen to tackle then but Martian Manhunter!  Mr. Last of his kind!  Mr. I shape shift depending on the situation to fit in.  I bet Steve could make a real slow burn of a thinker with that kind of material.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
Steve needs to call on Omar one more time and give Michael K. Williams his first real starring role as the J'Onn J'onzz himself!

Director/Property:
Justice League Dark directed by Jordan Peele

The Reasoning:
I know Jordan would rather tell original stories than work on pre-existing properties.  However, if he ever wanted to have some fun with a DCEU property and not feel like he had to be under a watchful eye with characters people hold dear, Justice League Dark gives Jordan Peele an opportunity to flex his horror muscles again with a splash of Magic on top!

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I don't really know the character that well but I just feel like Jordan Peele should bring his Get Out star, Caleb Landry Jones, with him to play Deadman in this movie.

Director/Property:
Dick Tracy directed by Martin Scorsese

The Reasoning:
Even though The Aviator isn't my favourite Scorcese film.  It shows off a tone that I think a successful Dick Tracy would need.  While you couldn't get too deep into the dirty language that I appreciate in Scorcese films, you could show off the opulence of the gangsters Dick Tracy fights and use some of the same accents and phrases.  I just like Marty in the mobster world and Dick Tracy offers that up.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
 Imagine Leonardo DiCaprio playing Dick Tracy up against a Robert De Niro villain!  Right?!  It already has my money!

Director/Property:
Suicide Squad 2 directed by Quentin Tarantino

The Reasoning:
I don't even feel like I have to say anything in here.  Quentin dealing with villains who can monologue while they double cross each other?  Yeah that sounds like a great Suicide Squad movie to me and it's right up QT's alley!  I mean you'd probably have to sell him on it more than the studio but still.  Imagine if this happened?  He's already shown a love for comic books.  He wrote the Silver Surfer dialogue into Crimson Tide and has talked about wanting to direct a Luke Cage film.  I know that's Marvel and not DC but still!  It's not like he thinks Comic Book Movies are beneath him we just need to convince him that if he's going to do one CBM, it's Suicide Squad's sequel.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
One actor who consistently charms me in Quentin Tarantino movies is Zoe Bell!  Putting her in a lead role during a big budget film like this would be great!  maybe she could play Poison Ivy or Livewire?

Director/Property:
The Hulk directed by Denis Villeneuve

The Reasoning:
Arrival, which was amazing, was a mediation on what if we actually tried to understand the unknown instead of trying to destroy it right away.  Now the truth of the matter is Hulk is going to have to smash something at some point, but, I think some of that idea can be brought back up in the Betty and Bruce relationship.  Or Betty trying to play middle man between Hulk and General Ross.  I have a good feeling about any Denis film, but his thoughtful approach to a character like Hulk would probably be better than the previous approaches.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I mean Leader is the obvious choice for the next villain, but Tim Blake Nelson has that on lock.  So I guess Absorbing Man would be a good villain... Maybe Jake Gyllenhaal could be convinced by Denis to finally make a Comic Book Movie as Carl Creel?

Director/Property:
Gambit directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts

The Reasoning:
My limited understanding of Gambit is that he's a lovable rouge with ties to the Louisiana criminal world.  I'd love to see a Jordan Vogt-Roberts version of that character.  Jordan's Kong film dealt with characters you shouldn't necessarily root for but their banter with each other made it hard to not want to see them succeed.  I can see that translating over to a Gambit movie.  I just think JVR has the right style to pull off a character like Gambit.

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I'm going to run off the assumption that Channing Tatum won't be Gambit by the time the movie is made.  In that case we're free to cast Toby Kebbell from Jordan's Kong movie but also my favourite Black Mirror episode and my favourite character in Rocknrolla!  If Channing is still in then I still want Toby in the movie doing what he does best, playing a character who ends up being more complicated than you initially expected.

Director/Property:
The Flash directed by Edgar Wright

The Reasoning:
The frenetic feeling on display in any Edgar movie is truly something to behold.   However, it's the foray into a more youthful setting in Scott Pilgrim that makes me feel like Mr. Wright would be the correct choice for The Flash's director (I feel like I missed an opportunity for word play there...).

Previous Collaborator to Star:
I did want Johnny Simmons to play Flash but I don't want to disrespect Ezra Miller.  As such, I'm thinking Simon Pegg could come through to play Eobard Thawne.  Who knows?

-YG