Is
Darren Aronofsky, the auteur behind 'Black Swan', 'The Wrestler', 'The Fountain' and 'Requiem for a Dream' - the man who met with Hugh Jackman recently about helming 'Wolverine 2' and once upon a time actually tried to reboot Batman with an adaptation of Frank Miller's 'Year One' - really the new front runner to direct '
Superman: The Man of Steel'?
The L.A. Times says so. They claim talks are underway between producers Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas over Aronofsky helming the script Batman writers Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer have collaborated on, with a view to rebooting the character. Ever since he dislodged that monkey of his back (aka 'The Fountain') four years ago, his movies have grown from strength to strength. They are more disciplined, more character driven and bags more soulful. His CV is growing, he is a big name who has broken out of his obscure director shackles. But is he really the new front runner to be
producer
Chris Nolan's surrogate director for WB's second biggest property? Is he really about to win one of the highest profile vacancies out there? I'd say probably not. Much more likely as his next gig is a project based on an original idea he has brewing for years, or an adaptation of a dusty old screenplay that has a dozen studio rejection letters stamped on it in his basement, that he's now in a position to actually make a reality. Or even an adaptation of the Japanese set '
Lone Wolf and Cub', something that fires a burning passion in Aronofsky. That doesn't mean Superman isn't something he might be extremely interested in. We know from his history that he is a huge comic book fan, and there must be something bittersweet about being approached by the same studio who turned him down ten years ago over their other marque character. And well Superman is Superman. You can probably count the number of actors/directors who have turned the character down on just one hand, it's just something you don't do. 'Black Swan' could be the movie that makes him, it might well take him all the way to the Academy. He is such a strong-willed storyteller that we can't personally imagine him being the surrogate filmmaker to anyone's elses ideas. I'm not sure guys like Aronofsky will be in Nolan's reach, unless Aronofsky was able to fit in with the Team Nolan (Chris Nolan, David Goyer, Jonathan Nolan) and actually become a part of the family, otherwise we just can't see it. Until you hear a firm announcement from The Hollywood Reporter or Variety - you should probably take each 'director in talks for Superman' scoop with a huge pinch of salt. Having said that, the L.A. Times is a reputable news outlet, indeed they have the closest links to Team Nolan as their reporter Geoff Boucher is just about the only guy Nolan will talk to.
So that leaves us with the list of names
Mike Fleming at Deadline announced last week;
Tony Scott (routinely linked with Superman because of his frenetic action style. Has recently struck a deal to helm
Mark Millar's comic book Nemesis, which is crazy enough to be much more up Scott's street. In a weird way, I kinda wanna see a Tony Scott directed Superman movie, just to see how nuts it would be).
Duncan Jones ('Moon', 'Source Code' --- we all loved his directorial debut, and there's much about him that will appeal to Nolan. A bright upstarter and a keen storyteller who can work in science fiction, but is he ready for such a big leap?)
Matt Reeves ('Let Me In', 'Cloverfield') - J.J. Abrams' protege who was closing on a deal to direct 'Wolverine 2' until he missed out, and who seems ambitious enough to win a major comic book deal.
Jonathan Liebesman (Battle: Los Angeles, TCM: The Beginning) - Previously didn't think much of him as a director but he has recieved much buzz for his alien invasion tentpole Battle: Los Angeles and has recently struck a deal at
Warners to direct 'Clash of the Titans 2', so he's definitely a name that is in their wheelhouse.
Zack Snyder ('Watchmen', '300') - Inevitably linked with the job because of his ties at Warner Bros. and the nature of the films he has made with them. His style however is so eccentric and so much based on the visual senses, that we don't want to see him helm this, do we?
One name who has since dropped out is
Ben Affleck, who would have made a good Superman some years ago and indeed, kinda did when he played the tragic George Reeve in 'Hollywoodland', and would have made a killer Superman movie truth to be told - but we think he's gotta big fish to fry.