Last week's news that director Darren Aronofsky had backed out of the upcoming flick The Wolverine hit fans like they were on the receiving end of a fastball special. After being attached and teased several times as directing a comic book feature, this project with Hugh Jackman — explained as more of a one-off movie than a sequel to X-Men Origins: Wolverine — was shaping up on paper to be both a comics fan and a movie lover's wet dream. The Usual Suspects screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie has already turned in a script that Hollywood's been buzzing about, and was reportedly one of the reasons the Black Swan director had signed on.
But with that dream dashed, the internet went to speculating as to who could fill the role — or even if it would, given how the screenplay is reportedly set in Japan and the recent catastrophe there. Regardless, fans are demanding a sequel and 20th Century Fox wants to give it to them — in exchange for a ticket, of course. With that being said, here's a list of some potential hires to take the mutant anti-hero to Japan and back.
John McTiernan: Die Hard. It's been his claim to fame, and although his later works haven't lived up to the expectations set for him with that seminal action movie, McTiernan could be just what The Wolverine needs. He's filmed all over the world, and worked with some of the biggest stars — and biggest egos — in the movie business. He could be just the thing for a movie based on the legendary Wolverine minseries by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller.
Takeshi Kitano: Who better to document Logan's time in Japan than one of the most reknown actors and directors of that island nation? Kitano has literally done every conceivable genre of film and television — from from the reality competition show Takeshi's Castle to the blood-soaked samurai flick Zatoichi. Although he's rarely done any English-language work, that might be the best considering the story and its setting — and could bring more than a whiff of realism to this feature film. And if he's not in the director's chair, he would make a commanding performance as part of the Yashida clan.
Debra Granik: Probably the most left-field of our picks today, Granik hit big with last year's film The Winter's Bone. As both screenwriter & director, she's shown amazing ability to get inside a character and how they see the world — a much-needed skill to depict Logan on the streets of Japan. Although it might be a leap to drop a project the size and scale of The Wolverine in her lap, we've seen directors with her skill do far more with much less.
Luc Besson: One of France's finest film-makers, Besson made a name for himself with action-driven dramas like Leon: The Professional that are more than just "shoot 'em ups". He's familiar with balancing big budget movies (as seen in The Fifth Element), and has filmed in Japan before. He's extremely busy with a full slate of directing jobs, as well as producing and screenwriting, but who's to say he couldn't make room for a 60-day shoot of The Wolverine in Japan with Hugh Jackman?
Peter Berg: Berg gets comic-book movies — from the hijinks as seen in Very Bad Things to the action epics like Hancock and The Rundown. He's been attached to comic movies before with The Losers, and although he opted not to direct he did contribute to the movie's screenplay. He's currently shooting the 2012 tentpole flick Battleship, but The Wolverine may be just what he needs after such a long and involved movie.
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Love the idea of Takeshi Kitano. they could go apocalypto or passion of the christ and could all be done in Japanese with subtitles, though don’t think Fox would allow that.
John McTiernan would be awesome, if he weren’t currently in prison.
I didn’t consider foreign directors, but Chan Wook Park of Oldboy fame would surely do some amazing work directing Wolverine.
I really hope it’s not McTiernan or Berg. The first film was already a generic action movie. I would like the sequel to have some actual substance.
How about Robert Rodriguez or even Quentin Tarantino
I’m loving the Luc Besson idea…but I say the “District 9″ director. Just to see what he can do
I think you’re going to see a dollars and sense decision made here, like a Neil Burger or Jonathan Liebesman, or even a DJ Caruso-type. Without a visionary like Aronofsky, I see no reason for Marvel Studios to shoot for outside the box.
Berg gets my vote as long as he does it Rundown and Losers style…. Let’s talk about who it won’t be…Brett Ratner….Joel Schumacher….Ben Stiller..:P Why can’t the Cohen Bros. direct?
Terrence Malick. It would be a perfect fit.
@ResurrectionFlan –dude’s only made like 3 movies in her career and takes a decade to make each one. If the studio’s goal is to make a movie before the license runs out, he would not be a top choice.
If Kitano directed it, I’d see a Deadpool movie. Kitano effing rules.
I concur with Paul…Beat Takeshi knows how to make some hard hitting flicks. By proxy, I even love Takeshi’s Castle (I LOVE MXC.)
@PaulMontgomery yes, the guy’s prettty awesome
if we’re talking french directors, Gaspar Noe could porberly make a wolverine movie that would make people throw up. in fact, he would be awesome for any superhero film
I love the idea of Luc Besson doing it. I’m all for that!
@wallythegreenmonster It would have awesome voice over and get really into the character and his relationship and dichotomy between man’s world and the natural world which he is torn between. Mixed with excellent action like in Thin Red Line and Badlands.
Now I want to see Wolverine get involved with Takeshi’s Castle (or MXC for us American viewers) and fail miserably at the stepping stones.
I really don’t see any of these directors working for me to make a good Wolverine film. But to be fair I can’t think of ANY directors period to make the film work at all. Even if it’s not related to anything from the first film, that Origins film pretty much set the bar to bad comic films.
@ResurrectionFlan –yeah but it would take 15 years to make and would be 4 hours long. =p
The only person to direct this film has to be…
Lexi Alexander
@edward: Gaspar Noe is easily the most over rated director currently making movies. His films lack character and plot and are generally nothing more than an exercise in style.