10 Directors Who Could Replace Josh Trank On Star Wars
The force is strong with these directors.
Josh Trank is no longer directing a Star Wars Anthology film. Regardless of what transpired, there is currently a noticeable void in the middle of Disney’s Star Wars empire. Amidst all of the speculation, now is the time to get excited at the prospect of who could come aboard to shepherd this spinoff to fruition.
The alleged plot surrounds Boba Fett’s origins and the world of bounty hunters. Fett is a fan favourite largely because of his mystery, so in expanding his backstory, the director will need to have a strong grasp on character, or risk turning his badass 'Man With No Name' vibe into some cliched redemption arc. Furthermore, the shadowy world of bounty hunters requires a director who can build tension and set an ominous tone, and some background in action wouldn’t hurt either.
It’s worth remembering that Trank only had one completed film at the time he was hired. Disney clearly has a type for these films and is seeking out young, talented directors with a least one sci-fi hit under their belts. While directors like Brad Bird, Matthew Vaughn, Matt Reeves, and Alfonso Cuaron would reduce fans to happy tears, they’re all seasoned vets and would seem to be better fits for Episode IX, the bigger film, which wouldn’t require them to come onboard as a fill-in.
These, then, are 10 up-and-coming directors, who have at least dabbled in science-fiction, and would all be perfect fits to replace Josh Trank.
10. Alex Garland
Seemingly the go-to guy for sci-fi screenplays over the last decade, Garland recently made the leap to the director’s chair with the subdued sci-fi thriller Ex Machina. He’s garnered rave reviews for his work, with most of the praise being levelled towards its look and the performances, two key components in crafting an exciting Anthology film.
As a screenwriter, he’s been behind such films as 28 Days Later, Sunshine, and Dredd, so even though he's spent little time directing, he may have the most experience in the genre of anyone on this list; not only has he written some sci-fi movies, he’s written some of the best genre movies from the last decade.
His films are hypnotic in execution and ambitious in scope, a surefire combination for Star Wars. He’s currently adapting the novel Annihilation, but his interest in subjects like space, crime, and artificial intelligence could easily draw him away.