By Marc Bernardin, Source: Blastr.com
Despite the forgone conclusion that the Chris Hemsworth-starring Thor would get a sequel—it’s what you do when a movie grosses $449 million worldwide—the path to getting that sequel off the ground has been a bit rocky. Hopefully, a Game of Thrones veteran can get the Asgardian ball rolling.
When it became clear that Thor director Kenneth Branagh wouldn’t be returning for the sequel, Marvel began searching for someone to fill his Shakespearan booties. And they settled on a rather interesting choice: Patty Jenkins, who’d previously directed Charlize Theron to an Oscar in Monster.
However, Jenkins—who would’ve been the first woman to direct one of Marvel’s superhero flicks—rubbed Marvel the wrong way and, citing the notoriously non-specific “creative differences,” the company fired Jenkins almost as fast as they hired her. It eventually came out that Marvel felt Jenkins wasn’t being decisive enough and they feared they’d miss their preordained November 2013 release date (And Natalie Portman, who championed Jenkins’ hiring, was pissed).
And so we come to Alan Taylor, who directed the final two episodes of Game of Thrones’ first season (you remember: the ones with the beheading and the naked fire dancing). According to The Hollywood Reporter, an offer for Taylor is on the table. For Marvel, it makes sense: While Taylor doesn’t have the wattage of Jon Favreau, Kenneth Branagh or Captain America director Joe Johnston, he does bring a TV-trained talent for achieving spectacle on budget and on schedule.
