3. Matthew Vaughn
Matthew Vaughn's name was one of those most loudly shouted by Internet commentators when Star Wars Episode VII was originally announced, and given his body of work to date, why not? The director has a strong track record, delivering four critically acclaimed and successful movies without a blip (our personal opinion of Stardust notwithstanding), and his last two movies in particular noted a sure evolution in his appeal, given that they were unapologetic geek fare: Kick Ass and X-Men: First Class. Vaughn earned significant plaudits for his legendary directing job on First Class, delivering a hugely successful blockbuster under immense studio pressure due to a ridiculously constrained time-frame, where filming didn't even begin until 9 months before the movie's release. That baptism by fire, and the fact that the movie shows few signs of a rushjob, is a testament to Vaughn's professionalism and skill: this makes him a perfect candidate for Episode IX.
How Likely Is It? 7/10