10 Directors Who Should Make Comic Book Movies


Wouldn’t JJ Abrams make an excellent  Fantastic Four movie? Or how about a  Peter Jackson Doctor Strange? Here’s a list of 10 directors I’d like to see behind the cameras for future superhero movies. A few may be wishful thinking, but a couple are within reason and even make a lot of sense when you think about it. They are in no specific order. What do you think? Who would you like to see direct your favorite comic book stories? Sound off in the comments!

Darren Aronofsky

Aronofsky has recently become  much more popular in large part thanks to Black Swan, for which Natalie Portman won an Oscar. But film fans know his earlier, even more awesomely disturbing/disturbingly awesome work: Pi, Requiem for a Dream, and The Fountain. I’d love to see his surreal approach to something like Sandman. We almost got an Aronofsky Robocop, which would have been close enough for a comic book movie for me.

David Fincher

He’s no stranger to sci-fi(Alien3), nor adaptations(Fight Club, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), and he even explores duality and being an outsider well(Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). I’d like to see him take on Chew or even the next round of Batman movies.

Ridley Scott

The director of Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner, and the upcoming awesome-looking Prometheus obviously knows his way around and epic and/or science fiction screenplay. He’s one of the ones on this list that just seems to sell himself for the comic book movie. How would his Silver Surfer  movie turn out if we were ever so graciously given such a gift? Pretty great, I imagine.

Neill Blomkamp

District 9 came out in theaters and made my year. Literally. It was tied for my favorite movie of the year with Star Trek in 2009. Blomkamp’s ability to balance heavily-themed science fiction with excellent direction, special effects on a budget, and characterization is perfect for a Nova movie, or any movie in need of his kind of respect for the medium.

Tony Jaa

Tony Jaa is probably the most amazing modern movie martial artist today. He directed Ong Bak 2, and has a masterful skill for energetic and unique fight scenes. Iron Fist, anyone? This guy could do serious justice to any martial arts comic. I’d like to see Daredevil take on the Hand under Jaa’s direction, even if he were only the fight coordinator.

Steven Spielberg

This one is kind of a no-brainer. Spielberg is responsible for approximately 34% of my best childhood memories, so it’s only fitting that he take on a major comic book movie while he’s still cranking out the quality. Pick a hero. I bet he’d do it justice.

Quentin Tarantino

I don’t know if this has been said on the interwebs somewhere before, but I’m saying it now: Tarantino for Preacher. I don’t think there could be a more serendipitous comic book movie for The Q.

Tony Scott

Man on Fire was a great Punisher flick, and the Punisher wasn’t even in it. The less-talent Scott Brother has put out some entertaining films, though some are hit or miss. It wouldn’t be a big deal for him to do an actual Punisher movie. He’s already made 2 movies about trains.


Peter Jackson

I can see Jackson using his talents at epic alternate realms to really make a grand, sweeping, cosmic tale of Thor and Asgard. He could really submerse the audience into the 9 realms and make it feel authentic.

JJ ABRAMS

He’s already earned his nerd cred through Lost, Star Trek, and Super 8. I think he should also helm a Star Wars reboot as well as any comic book character he sees fit, then go ahead and ascend to his throne as King of the Fanboys.

BONUS:

KEVIN SMITH

Admittedly, Smith claims he’s retiring from directing, and that’s understandable when you factor in his several stinkers. But maybe what the original fanboy needs is to get back to his roots and make a fun, comedic superhero movie. Don’t give him a beloved character, but maybe one that he can have his way with and make it more interesting through his distinct style. Or just let him smoke weed all day, bitch about his movies not getting awards, and never direct again. Whatever.

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