Throughout the years we have had directors like Tim Burton, Richard Donner, Bryan Singer (I support him), Sam Raimi, Matthew Vaugn, Christopher Nolan, Marc Webb (yes, I went there) and Joss Whedon whom all have brought us great to fantastic superhero films. Some not so much like Joel Schumacher and Mark Steven Johnson. Then there is Zack Snyder who has done good superhero movies and then a crap movie about 300. Anyways, I have put together a list of directors I think are deserving of superhero movies and with that director, I'll name my suggested superhero film.
5) Jonathan Levine
In case you don't recognize the name, Jonathan Levine is known for the rather funny and very entertaining Warm Bodies as well as the fantastic, rather depressing and tear jerking 50/50 (brings me to tears every time). So, why should he direct a superhero film? Well, whether family friendly and light hearted or dark and brooding. A superhero movie needs heart and emotion. Something I felt have been lacking in the Ghost Rider films, Green Lantern and Man of Steel in my opinion (although, It can be mostly blamed for David Goyer. Why is he back again?). Warm Bodies barely show cased his abilities as an action director but, Warm Bodies and very much 50/50 show that he can bring a lot of emotion and truly make the audiences care about the characters instead of spectacle. My suggestion will shock you but, I think he can make people care about Aquaman and take him seriously. Yes, I think he should direct Aquaman. Even though Levine likes short movies. Hell, If Marc Webb can go from (500) Days of Summer (best romantic comedy I have ever seen), which by all means is a great movie, and direct a Spider-Man movie where we care about the characters (no disrespect to the great Raimi trilogy) without more than one movie to his name. Then Levine will be fine with someone like Aquaman. The DC Cinematic Universe will be even deeper without Goyer's taint.
4) Gavin O'Connor
I won't lie, I have only seen Warrior. But, Warrior is also one of my top five favorite movies ever. Why? Well, the same reasons why O'Connor should direct (maybe even write) a superhero movie. As with Jonathan Levine, he makes you care about the characters. The fighting in Warrior had clear editing and was brutal. O'Connor shares the same thing that Levine has, he brings emotion out with his movies. He doesn't make you care about spectacle, he makes you care about the characters and stakes. Something that superhero movies have a tenancy of constantly failing to do, with the exception of Captain America. As with Levine, I would give him a lesser known character. Black Panther was always my top choice with him for me (Chadwick Boseman for Black Panter). He will make us actually care about the characters. Let's be honest, no one would care if Iron Man or Hulk died in any Marvel movies cause they are only seen as being funny, or in Hulk's case, funny and badass.
3) Rian Johnson
The Flash or Green Lantern. I will just throw those two out. Rian Johnson's Loooper was spectacular. It was everything you wanted in a Sci-fi film. It's obvious as to see why he is the popular choice to reboot Green Lantern for the DC Cinematic Universe. I would get him for maybe, The Flash instead (although, the already said director made Life as We Know it, it's a good movie). Looper was action packed, suspenseful and had you on the edge of your seat. That practically spells out, reboot Green Lantern cause of the nature of his character. Need I say more?
2) David Slade
Yes, I am still going on with this. David Slade is born to make a superhero movie. Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night shows it. Hell, it helps that 30 Days of Night is a comicbook movie and the best and arguably only scary vampire movie made. He has the Hannibal tv show under his belt and yes, he made the third Twilight film. But, when Marvel Studios reboots Ghost Rider (which should be Phase four or five), they need to get Slade to direct it. Maybe Josh Hartnett or even more hopefully, Jake Gyllenhaal to star in it. David Slade's first two films shows he is born for darker superheroes and make them work. Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night were both suspenseful and on the edge of your seat. You cared about the survivors in the latter film and he makes some pretty menacing villains as well as awesome fight scenes. I would to have loved to seen his, DareDevil film. But yeah, David Slade and Ghost Rider. Make it happen! We can at least agree he would be a good choice and the film visually would've looked spectacular.
1) Derek Cianfrance
Blue Valentine and the best film of 2013 thus far, The Place Beyond The Pines. Yes, THAT director. I won't lie, I don't know what superhero film he should direct but he needs to direct one. That's for certain. No director has had me more emotionally invested in a film than he has. The way he fleshes out characters, drives the story and gets you emotionally involved, all he needs is the action scenes and you get a guy born to direct a superhero film. Doctor Strange, Hulk, DareDevil, just to throw out some possibilities. I am not joking, the way this guy makes films and the way he succeeds at what he wants to do with them makes him perfect for a superhero film.
Note: Everyone knows my dislike for Alfonso Cuaron and his films (except Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the weakest entry of the franchise) so, it should come as no surprise he was not on this list.
What are your guys' dream directors to direct superhero film? Comment below. I just thought this would be a fun topic for us as a community.