Marvel Studios is making plans for its post-Avengers: Secret Wars slate, and a new report from The Cosmic Circus reveals that Kevin Feige already has his eye on a filmmaker with serious sci-fi credentials.
According to the site, Predator: Badlands director Dan Trachtenberg is in talks to write and direct an upcoming MCU movie. The report specifies that this would be for a feature film, not a Disney+ TV series or Special Presentation, and notes that "the project would focus on a single character rather than an upcoming ensemble movie."
Trachtenberg has a pre-existing relationship with Disney after working on 20th Century Studios movies Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers, and Predator: Badlands. His previous credits include Black Mirror and 10 Cloverfield Lane, and he's currently developing a new take on Sleeping Beauty for the House of Mouse.
The Nova movie being written by Michael Waldron is a possibility, while Marvel Studios' long-gestating Blade feature is another. Of course, we also can't discount the possibility that Trachtenberg might have his eye on something like Wolverine.
"I like so many filmmakers of my generation and younger, who have made a movie that strikes a chord, have definitely met," the filmmaker said, pausing a moment before adding, "I will say that I met a producer named Jeremy Latcham at [Marvel Studios] and [Kevin Feige], because of Jeremy, to meet for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' before James Gunn, based on my short film 'Portal.'"
"They were like, 'That’s creative, let’s find someone interesting and cool.' I did not get the job, obviously, and rightfully so, but still so, so awesome."
Whatever Trachtenberg's mystery MCU project ends up being, he would be an intriguing addition to the MCU. His work on the Predator franchise has proven that he can deliver compelling sci-fi action, all while finding fresh ways to approach established characters and mythology.
That's arguably exactly what Marvel needs as it looks beyond the Multiverse Saga and toward the Mutant Saga. With Avengers: Secret Wars bringing the current era of MCU storytelling to a close, the studio will need to find filmmakers capable of establishing new corners of the franchise without relying too heavily on familiar faces and existing storylines.
Trachtenberg's apparent preference for a character-focused project is also encouraging. Whether he's being lined up for Nova, Blade, Wolverine, or something else entirely, this could be an opportunity for Marvel to deliver a new type of story with a distinctive creative vision.