2. James Gunn
This is an article about Star Trek (you may have noticed) but lets' take a second to praise Marvel's film studio for being one of the most exciting in existence. Casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark was one of the bravest and most successful decisions a Hollywood studio has ever made, and ever since the studio has continued to take similar risks to great ends. Their biggest since Iron Man is undoubtedly Guardians of the Galaxy, the wacky adaptation starring a talking racoon, a tree person and with the man behind Super and Slither in the director's chair. James Gunn is an unlikely blockbuster filmmaker but his catalogue of films are perfect examples of barmy and sometimes daring fun. The success of Guardians will play a big part in the director's future but if the script is every bit as witty as we've come to aspect following Joss Whedon's Avengers and Shane Black's Iron Man 3, we could have the next star director on our hands. And who wouldn't want to see him direct a Trek... hmmm "Direct-a-Trek" , that should have been the headline.