Now that Brie Larson is officially set to play Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel, and she better be since they trotted her out in front of the Comic-Con crowd, the attention now turns to who will direct. A number of names have been rumored over the last few months, and as a brand new shortlist emerges a couple of those same directors are still in contention.
THR says Niki Caro (Whale Rider), Lorene Scafaria (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist), and Lesli Linka Glatter (Mad Men) are in the mix to direct Marvel's first female-led superhero movie. Caro has been on the list for some time, along with Jennifer Kent (The Babadook) and Jennifer Yuh (Kung Fu Panda 3) who apparently didn't make the cut. Popular choice Emily Carmichael is probably too busy with Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow's Powerhouse and her adaptation of Lumberjanes to be considered.
That's quite a trio and all would fit with Marvel's penchant for giving less-recognizable names a shot at the big time. Caro and Scafaria are big screen veterans and, honestly, two of my favorite directors working today, so either one would be a nice choice. I think Caro may have the right sensibility for something like Captain Marvel, based solely on Whale Rider and the empowering story that told. That said, Scafaria has been consistently terrific since Nick & Norah, directing Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and this year's The Meddler. I was lucky enough to speak with Scafaria earlier this year and we talked a little bit about superhero movies.
Captain Marvel opens March 8th 2019 so we may not hear anything for a while yet.
