7 Directors Who Nearly Helmed Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies

Over more than three dozen films, Marvel Studios has utilized a variety of directors to breathe life into each individual film within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While some directors like the Russo brothers return multiple times, most are one-time directors who join and depart. Examples include Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Chloe Zhao, Kenneth Branagh, Scott Derrickson, Louis Leterrier, Cate Shortland. These directors have directed only one Marvel Cinematic Universe film during its over 16-year run in cinemas. Not all of these directors are well-known, but many have gained additional recognition following their work with Marvel Studios.

Let’s explore the stories of less famous directors who nearly became part of the Marvel Studios directorial family but ultimately didn’t get the chance to bring their creative visions to life on the big screen. Patty Jenkins and Edgar Wright are well-known examples, having left Thor: The Dark World and Ant-Man respectively, just months before production began. However, there are other directors whose opportunities to direct Marvel Studios movies never materialized. Ahead, we’ll delve into seven such instances where these directing gigs never came to fruition for various reasons.

Brian Kirk & Thor: The Dark World

The significant creative challenges faced during the production of “Thor: The Dark World” can be attributed to the difficulty in finding a suitable director after the original filmmaker, Branagh, declined returning for this sequel. After numerous potential directors, such as Jenkins, were considered, Alan Taylor was eventually chosen as the final director. Interestingly, Brian Kirk, like Taylor, had gained recognition for his work on “Game of Thrones” episodes and had directed two films prior to this opportunity, including “Cherrybomb” in 2009. Despite initial talks with Kirk regarding the project, it did not materialize, and Jenkins became associated with this ill-fated blockbuster instead.

Travis Knight & Eternals

Prior to Chloe Zhao being chosen as the director of the film, “Eternals” was being considered by several potential directors. One of these names was Travis Knight, well-known for running the animation studio Laika. In late 2018, when Marvel Studios were deciding on a director for “Eternals”, Knight had demonstrated his ability in live-action filmmaking with “Bumblebee”. Directing a Marvel Studios movie could have been the next phase in Knight’s journey towards live-action cinema. However, Marvel ultimately selected Zhao, who was relatively new to the realm of big-budget films.

Mark Andrews & Doctor Strange

In the running for the director of Doctor Strange was another talent from Disney’s stable: Mark Andrews. Known for his work at Pixar, he had won an Oscar for directing the 2012 film Brave. Similar to previous Pixar directors such as Andrew Stanton and Brad Bird, Andrews showed a desire to venture into live-action filmmaking. Directing Doctor Strange could have fulfilled this ambition. In fact, in March 2014, he was so engrossed in the project that he had to dodge an interview question about Doctor Strange. Unfortunately for Andrews, the opportunity would eventually pass him by, with Scott Derrickson taking on the feature instead.

Rob Letterman and Thor: Ragnarok

As one of the contenders to direct Thor: Ragnarok, I, Rob Letterman, a seasoned DreamWorks Animation director renowned for my work on Monsters vs. Aliens and Shark Tale, was in the running. My background in visual effects-driven live-action films like Gulliver’s Travels and Goosebumps likely made me an attractive choice for Marvel Studios. They were undoubtedly aiming to inject a more lighthearted approach into Ragnarok compared to previous Thor movies. Instead of recruiting a veteran from the family movie genre, Marvel Studios ultimately selected the brilliant mind behind What We Do In The Shadows, who would go on to forever alter Asgard in an unexpected way.

Jonathan Levine and Spider-Man: Homecoming

As a cinephile, I must admit that Jonathan Levine’s touch with teenage narratives, showcased in his 2008 film “The Wackness,” could have added depth to the characters of “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” His knack for this genre was further evident in 2013’s “Warm Bodies” and 2015’s “The Night Before,” which no doubt caught the attention of Sony/Columbia Pictures executives. It came as no surprise, then, that Levine was frequently linked to the directorial role for “Homecoming.”

Interestingly, the man who eventually took the helm, Jon Watts, wasn’t even on the radar when discussions about “Homecoming” directors began! However, Watts managed to surpass Levine and directed Tom Holland’s inaugural solo adventure as Spider-Man.

David Wain and Ant-Man

After Wright departed from Ant-Man, the team rushed to find a new director who would meet the July 2015 release date. One notable candidate was David Wain, known for his quirky indie comedy films. Wain’s connection with Ant-Man lead actor Paul Rudd, with whom he had collaborated on projects like They Came Together, Wet Hot American Summer, and Role Models, made him a potential asset for the project. However, Marvel ultimately chose Peyton Reed for the job instead.

Jamie Babbit and The Marvels

One of the three potential directors for The Marvels, following Boden and Fleck’s departure from Captain Marvel, was none other than Jamie Babbit, a renowned filmmaker known for her work on But I’m A Cheerleader. Many independent filmmakers often transition to directing larger-scale projects within the MCU. Interestingly, Babbit would have stood out as she wasn’t a newcomer like Zhao or Watts in the indie scene. Instead, she had been making microbudget indie films for more than two decades before being considered for The Marvels! However, it seems that Babbit and Marvel Studios weren’t meant to collaborate, as Nia DaCosta ultimately took on the project instead.

MCU movies can be streamed on Disney+.

2025-01-11 16:09