With Thor director Kenneth Branagh declining on reprising the job for Marvel Studios’ planned sequel, there has been some speculation as to who would take over the behind-the-camera duties. Deadline is reporting that the studio is close to a decision and it may be one that will come as a surprise to some people – Patty Jenkins.
If Jenkins gets the job, she’ll be the first woman director to helm a comic book film since Rachel Talalay’s Tank Girl in 1995.
Jenkins has a pretty impressive resume. On the film side, she has Monster (2003) which won Charlize Theron an acting Academy Award. Her work on the pilot episode of AMC’s The Killing got her an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. She has also directed episodes of Arrested Development and Entourage.
With a $448 million worldwide box office gross and a headlining appearance in next summer’s The Avengers, Marvel wants to move fast in getting the character back on the screen. To that end they have already scheduled a release date of July 26, 2013. Thor co-writer Don Payne is already working on a screenplay.
Even if Jenkins isn’t Marvel’s final choice, I would expect an announcement as to who is fairly soon.
Meanwhile, Hemsworth, who has wrapped up his work on The Avengers, is diving into production on Snow White And The Huntsman opposite Kristen Stewart and Theron.
