Scott Derrickson will no longer helm
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness after parting ways with Marvel over "creative differences," and it's being reported that Kevin Feige and co. have already begun the search for a new director to steer the sequel into production later this year.
Considering the movie is sticking with its original release date, there's a decent chance Marvel already has someone in mind, but there's always room for a bit of speculation!
Not every director on this list is a realistic option (in fact, some are massive long/no shots), but if Marvel had their druthers, we think any one of these 8 filmmakers would be a great choice to helm
Doctor Strange 2. Have a read through and let us know what you think in the comments.
Simply click on the VIEW LIST (ONE PAGE) button below!
Guillermo del Toro
We'll start with the most obvious pick.
The Shape of Water director Guillermo del Toro was a fan-favorite choice to helm
Doctor Strange long before the movie was even greenlit, and it's been reported that the studio actually rejected his pitch for the Sorcerer Supreme back in the MCU's infancy.
It seems highly unlikely that Del Toro would be interested in taking up the reigns now - even if he could fit the movie into his infamously stacked schedule - but he'd certainly be a most welcome replacement for Derrickson if Feige was able to make it happen.
Ben Wheatley
British director Ben Wheatley is known for his disturbing, but blackly funny early features such as
Kill List and
Sightseers, but he has since moved on to more mainstream fare like
Free Fire, and recently signed on to helm the
Tomb Raider reboot.
He would be an outside the box choice for
Doctor Strange 2 for sure, but just take a look at
A Field in England for an idea of the originality and sheer mind-[frick]ery he could bring to the table if Marvel was to harness his talent - and wasn't afraid to let him loose.
Jordan Peele
Jordan Peele is a terrific filmmaker who has proven to be adept at melding horror and comedy in the likes of
Get Out and
Us. He's also able to deliver effective scares and tension without relying too heavily on brutal violence/gore, which makes him a perfect candidate to direct
Doctor Strange 2.
Peele has said in the past that he prefers to work on his own projects, so whether he'd have any interest in helming a major studio blockbuster like this is another matter. He was attached to WB's live-action
Akira at one point, so you never know.
Ana Lily Amirpour
Ana Lily Amirpour's superb debut feature, the "Iranian Vampire Spaghetti Western"
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, marked her as a major talent, and while her follow up
The Bad Batch was seen as something of a misfire, she would definitely bring buckets of style and a unique vision to something like
Doctor Strange.
Amirpour's penchant for sparse dialogue could be an issue, but she did direct an episode of FX's
Legion, so we know she's willing to dip her toe in the genre.
Amirpour probably wouldn't be free to take the helm anyway as she's still shooting
Blood Moon and will next helm a remake of
Cliffhanger, so she'll have to go in the "wish-list" category for now.
Alex Garland
Alex Garland started out as a highly well-regarded writer, delivering scripts for the likes of
28 Days Later, Sunshine and Dredd. But it was his debut feature
Ex Machina and masterful follow-up
Annihilation that really put him on the radar of sci-fi/horror fans. The latter, in particular, showcased Garland's keen eye for surreal and stunningly inventive visuals.
A comic book fan, Garland has actually mentioned
Doctor Strange as being one of his favorite characters in the past.
It's time to make a phone-call, Kev.
Liam Gavin
Irish/Welsh filmmaker Liam Gavin probably won't be familiar to many here, but if Marvel decides to lean heavily on the more occult aspects of The Sorcerer Supreme and his various demonic adversaries, then this up-and-coming director is the man they should be talking to.
Gavin has only helmed one feature so far, but that film is the sublime, terrifying, heart-breaking
A Dark Song.
It'd be a big leap to a Marvel blockbuster, of course, but Feige and co. are known for taking chances on directors, and they usually pay off.
Jennifer Kent
Okay, so this is never going to happen in a million years, but just imagine if Marvel was able to convince Jennifer Kent to direct a movie like
Doctor Strange 2?
Kent's debut feature,
The Babadook, is widely regarded as a horror masterpiece, and she followed it up with the equally brilliant
Nightingale. Neither film is an easy watch (the latter, in particular), and Kent seems primarily interested in exploring the darker aspects of the human condition. That'd suit Doctor Strange to a degree, but she'd obviously have to tone it down considerably.
Again, we seriously doubt Kent has any interest in helming a superhero film, so chalk this down as more wishful thinking.
Panos Cosmatos
If there's one name on this list we'd genuinely love to see land the gig, it's
Mandy director Panos Cosmatos.
The Greek-Canadian filmmaker possesses one of the most unique visual styles of anyone working in the industry today, as evidenced by the mind-bending masterpiece that is
Mandy. The Nicholas Cage-starring action horror is a true original, and Cosmatos' use of sound and imagery results in a dream-like experience that soon becomes a nightmare.
If Marvel was willing to allow Cosmatos to unleash the beast (the wouldn't be), he could make our journey to the Multiverse of Madness a truly unforgettable trip.