Honourable Mentions
In a few years time, nearly all of the listed names will also pass the age of forty five, but theyll surely be replaced by another crop of equally talented young blood. Some of the following individuals, notable for one or two excellent releases, are amongst those who could follow in their footsteps. Richard Ayoade (35) Best known for his role as Moss in The IT Crowd, Ayoade has recently made a successful transition to directing, earning plaudits for his debut feature, Submarine. He is currently attached to direct The Double, a film based on one of the works of Dostoyevsky starring Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska. Neill Blomkamp (33) Having created a fantastic piece of science fiction in the form of District 9, Blomkamp will reunite with the films star, Sharlto Copley in the upcoming Elysium, which also features Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. Gareth Edwards (37) A British director previously involved in the creation of digital effects, Edwards work on Monsters has led to him being hired to helm a new take on Godzilla. Ruben Fleischer (38) Having earned a number of his plaudits for his first film, Zombieland, the reaction to Fleischers follow-ups, 30 Minutes Or Less and Gangster Squad, has been more mixed, though his debut proves that he does have the capacity for excellence. Shane Meadows (40) Taken off of the main list at the last moment, Meadows has made a number of excellent independent British films, Dead Mans Shoes and This Is England amongst them. He could have a promising future in the big leagues, but whether hed be interested in it is another matter. Marc Webb (38) A former music video director, Webb created an excellent twist on the love story with (500) Days Of Summer, the success of which led to him being handed the reins for last years Spider-Man reboot, which received a mixed reaction. Hell return for next years sequel, which sees Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti and Shailene Woodley join the cast. Of course, theres undoubtedly many more, so feel free to discuss the worlds most promising upcoming directors in the comments section.