10 Directors Who Almost Directed 2014's Biggest Movies

4. F Gary Gray Almost Directed Captain America: Winter Soldier

Marvel have something of a track record of choosing slightly left-field directors to handle their properties; taking the Pixar approach to encouraging talent that has proved so far, so inspired. But the suggestion that music video and movie director F Gary Gray was on the shortlist of directors for Winter Soldier is odd to say the least. Along with George Nolfi and the Russos (who won the gig in the end), Gray made up that list of considered talents after Marvel had whittled down a longer list, and was in fact the most experienced film-maker on the list. Perhaps it was his stark portrayal of political corruption and violent under-currents in Law Abiding Citizens that made him appealing, but either way it would have been a shock appointment. What It Would Have Been Like It's hard to imagine the '70s espionage soaked tone under Gray, and the drama may well have been a lot more visceral (and the violence more pronounced) judging by his previous works. But then who could possibly have predicted that the Russos - most famous for You, Me And Dupree would pull that off either?