I’m not sure where Marvel are going with this. By continuing to make (relatively) left-field choices with directors for their tent-pole projects (Kenneth Branagh, Shane Black), they could be demonstrating innovative, unconventional decision making. On the other hand, they might just be picking untried (in terms of this sort of material) names at random, hoping for the best and making sure that they don’t allow the director’s name to become bigger than theirs.
Whatever the grand plan might be (if indeed there is one), Patty Jenkins has now been officially confirmed as director of Thor 2, which will be released, surprisingly, in the autumn of 2013 rather than a summer slot. Who is she and what has she done previously? I’m glad you asked.
She directed Charlize Theron to Oscar glory in Monster and since then has directed episodes of TV series Entourage, The Killing and Arrested Development. Does this qualify her to handle an effects-laden $100m+ budgeted blockbuster? Why not? Sam Raimi, Peter Jackson, Kenneth Branagh, Marc Forster and Shane Black all had relatively little experience of big budgets and mammoth special effects sequences when they were signed up for their assorted tentpole debuts and all of those worked out pretty well. It is naive and perhaps a little patronising to suggest that unless a director has handled a big budget and huge set pieces before that they will be hopelessly out of their depth on a film like this.
Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston are all back for more as well. Here’s the official news release:-
Marvel Studios announced today that Patty Jenkins will direct THOR 2, which will be released in theatres on Friday, November 15, 2013. Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman will return to star in the film along with Tom Hiddleston. Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige will produce the sequel to this summer’s blockbuster THOR, which has grossed over $448 million worldwide to date.
Patty Jenkins previously directed MONSTER starring Charlize Theron, who won an Academy Award® for her performance in the film. Jenkins, who received an Emmy nomination for directing the pilot of AMC’s acclaimed series The Killing, has also directed episodes of Entourage and Arrested Development. Most recently, she directed “Pearl,” one of the five short films that comprise Lifetime’s original movie FIVE.
In addition to THOR 2, Marvel Studios is currently scheduled to release MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS on May 4, 2012, and IRON MAN 3 which is slated for release on May 3, 2013.
Jenkins is represented by CAA, Anonymous Content, and Alan Wertheimer.
