10 Directors Who Could Save Dying Movies Franchises

For many, James Gray's filmography may be something of a mystery. However, for those who have seen any of his projects, particularly this year's Ad Astra, you can understand this match. Known best for making tense, intimate dramas, his work recently has only shown his broader range.

Gray excels at sucking you into his film's settings and keeping you hooked until the credits roll. You're invested in the characters' lives and the world because it feels somehow familiar and wholly-realized. This is due to the excellent performances he consistently gets from each of his performers and his firm grasp on the film itself, always pushing it forward in the proper direction.

Gray continues to also hone his ability to emotionally move audiences. In both Ad Astra and The Lost City of Z, he's able to make you terrified about the black recesses of space or the unpredictable brutality of the jungle, but he takes the time to ensure you see the beauty as well.

Man of Steel showed a Clark Kent that struggled with being in modern society, but pushed through his fear to do what was right. There were frightening, tense moments, but following them were moments of hope. James Gray would be more than capable of maintaining that identity, while still providing a heroic tale all his own.