Marvel Considering Alan Taylor And Daniel Minahan To Direct 'Thor 2,' New Screenwriter Hire Also Expected

The most unexpected news this week was that Thor 2 director Patty Jenkins had walked away from the film over 'creative differences,' leaving the Marvel Studios sequel in a pinch. The film isn't set for release until November 15, 2013, but as an effects-heavy project that the studio also wants to rewrite, this turmoil in the creative staff doesn't bode well.

Now a new report says that Marvel is looking at two directors, neither of whom will be names recognized by all. Alan Taylor and Daniel Minahan are the two leading candidates. Both have a lot of TV experience, and both are Game of Thrones veterans, just like the first Thor 2 director, Brian Kirk.

THR says that Marvel was just hiring a new writer when Patty Jenkins left, so the company is in the position of choosing a couple of significant new creative team members. The current possible writers are John Collee (Happy Feet, Master and Commander), Robert Rodat (Falling Skies, Saving Private Ryan), and Roger Avary. Sheldon Turner was once a possible choice to rewrite Don Payne's script, but he's evidently not in the mix any longer.

That writer hire will likely go hand with the new directorial choice. The resume of Alan Taylor includes the feature Palookaville, as well as episodes of Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, The Sopranos, Mad Men, and Playboy Club.

Daniel Minahan also has GoT experience, as mentioned, and directed episodes of True Blood, Deadwood, and Grey's Anatomy, as well as the 2001 feature Series 7: The Contenders. (Which is actually a solid little movie, and one I was just talking about the other day as a film that doesn't often come up in conversation these days.)

I can't say I've got much to add about any of these choices. I'm not all that surprised by Marvel looking at TV directors for a tentpole sequel, though. The studio is famously cheap, for one. So it is looking at people who have been able to come on to existing projects and direct them in the house style, while staying on budget working in very expensive and money-sensitive situations. That sounds exactly like what Marvel would want for a film like Thor 2.

For what it's worth, Jeff Sneider from Variety commented on this report saying, "Don't believe everything you read. If I were a betting man, I'd say DANIEL MINAHAN ain't getting the THOR 2 gig... much as I loved SERIES 7."