DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS: 8 Directors We'd Like To See Replace Scott Derrickson

Last night, it was announced that Scott Derrickson had parted ways with Doctor Strange 2 and that Marvel was already searching for a new director. Here are our top 8 picks for potential replacements...

By MarkCassidy - Jan 10, 2020 10:01 AM EST

Filed Under: In the Multiverse of Madness

Scott Derrickson will no longer helm Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness after parting ways with Marvel over "creative differences," and it's being reported that Kevin Feige and co. have already begun the search for a new director to steer the sequel into production later this year.

Considering the movie is sticking with its original release date, there's a decent chance Marvel already has someone in mind, but there's always room for a bit of speculation!

Not every director on this list is a realistic option (in fact, some are massive long/no shots), but if Marvel had their druthers, we think any one of these 8 filmmakers would be a great choice to helm Doctor Strange 2. Have a read through and let us know what you think in the comments.

Simply click on the VIEW LIST (ONE PAGE) button below!

Guillermo del Toro

We'll start with the most obvious pick.

The Shape of Water director Guillermo del Toro was a fan-favorite choice to helm Doctor Strange long before the movie was even greenlit, and it's been reported that the studio actually rejected his pitch for the Sorcerer Supreme back in the MCU's infancy.

It seems highly unlikely that Del Toro would be interested in taking up the reigns now - even if he could fit the movie into his infamously stacked schedule - but he'd certainly be a most welcome replacement for Derrickson if Feige was able to make it happen.

Ben Wheatley

British director Ben Wheatley is known for his disturbing, but blackly funny early features such as Kill List and Sightseers, but he has since moved on to more mainstream fare like Free Fire, and recently signed on to helm the Tomb Raider reboot.

He would be an outside the box choice for Doctor Strange 2 for sure, but just take a look at A Field in England for an idea of the originality and sheer mind-[frick]ery he could bring to the table if Marvel was to harness his talent - and wasn't afraid to let him loose.

Jordan Peele

Jordan Peele is a terrific filmmaker who has proven to be adept at melding horror and comedy in the likes of Get Out and Us. He's also able to deliver effective scares and tension without relying too heavily on brutal violence/gore, which makes him a perfect candidate to direct Doctor Strange 2.

Peele has said in the past that he prefers to work on his own projects, so whether he'd have any interest in helming a major studio blockbuster like this is another matter. He was attached to WB's live-action Akira at one point, so you never know.

Ana Lily Amirpour

Ana Lily Amirpour's superb debut feature, the "Iranian Vampire Spaghetti Western" A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, marked her as a major talent, and while her follow up The Bad Batch was seen as something of a misfire, she would definitely bring buckets of style and a unique vision to something like Doctor Strange.

Amirpour's penchant for sparse dialogue could be an issue, but she did direct an episode of FX's Legion, so we know she's willing to dip her toe in the genre.

Amirpour probably wouldn't be free to take the helm anyway as she's still shooting Blood Moon and will next helm a remake of Cliffhanger, so she'll have to go in the "wish-list" category for now.

Alex Garland

Alex Garland started out as a highly well-regarded writer, delivering scripts for the likes of 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Dredd. But it was his debut feature Ex Machina and masterful follow-up Annihilation that really put him on the radar of sci-fi/horror fans. The latter, in particular, showcased Garland's keen eye for surreal and stunningly inventive visuals.

A comic book fan, Garland has actually mentioned Doctor Strange as being one of his favorite characters in the past.

It's time to make a phone-call, Kev.

Liam Gavin

Irish/Welsh filmmaker Liam Gavin probably won't be familiar to many here, but if Marvel decides to lean heavily on the more occult aspects of The Sorcerer Supreme and his various demonic adversaries, then this up-and-coming director is the man they should be talking to.

Gavin has only helmed one feature so far, but that film is the sublime, terrifying, heart-breaking A Dark Song.

It'd be a big leap to a Marvel blockbuster, of course, but Feige and co. are known for taking chances on directors, and they usually pay off.

Jennifer Kent

Okay, so this is never going to happen in a million years, but just imagine if Marvel was able to convince Jennifer Kent to direct a movie like Doctor Strange 2?

Kent's debut feature, The Babadook, is widely regarded as a horror masterpiece, and she followed it up with the equally brilliant Nightingale. Neither film is an easy watch (the latter, in particular), and Kent seems primarily interested in exploring the darker aspects of the human condition. That'd suit Doctor Strange to a degree, but she'd obviously have to tone it down considerably.

Again, we seriously doubt Kent has any interest in helming a superhero film, so chalk this down as more wishful thinking.

Panos Cosmatos

If there's one name on this list we'd genuinely love to see land the gig, it's Mandy director Panos Cosmatos.

The Greek-Canadian filmmaker possesses one of the most unique visual styles of anyone working in the industry today, as evidenced by the mind-bending masterpiece that is Mandy. The Nicholas Cage-starring action horror is a true original, and Cosmatos' use of sound and imagery results in a dream-like experience that soon becomes a nightmare.

If Marvel was willing to allow Cosmatos to unleash the beast (the wouldn't be), he could make our journey to the Multiverse of Madness a truly unforgettable trip.

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99 Comments

1 2 3

JoeInTheBox - 1/10/2020, 10:17 AM

Timo Tjahjanto
Gareth Evans
Issa Lopez
Mike Flanagan
Alexandre Aja
Christopher Landon
Joe Cornish
Coralie Fargeat
David Bruckner
Jeremy Saulnier
David Slade

PBIRD - 1/10/2020, 1:04 PM

@JoeInTheBox -
all those names and you didn't say
Miguel Sapochnik
?????????

JoeInTheBox - 1/10/2020, 1:22 PM

@PBIRD - Maybe for WandaVision, but I haven't seen him establish work outside of television. I've enjoyed all these director's movies.

PBIRD - 1/10/2020, 2:38 PM

@JoeInTheBox - BATTLE OF THE BASTARDS on game of thrones, is better and bigger than most movies.

JoeInTheBox - 1/13/2020, 4:23 AM

@PBIRD - I don't disagree, but Alan Taylor = Thor: The Dark World and Terminator: Genisys. Not saying Sapochnik isn't up to the task. But television is way more a work of a committee than even studio films. Had he done the entire season of the show(i.e. Cary Fukanaga on True Detective), then I would have a good idea of the director's style/vision.

DillonEnnis - 1/10/2020, 10:19 AM

Sam Raimi may be the best pick if they don't want to do an entire horror movie

Oberlin4Prez - 1/10/2020, 10:21 AM

Not sure if getting directors that are even more into horror is the best idea if it’s not going to be a horror movie. 🤷‍♂️

Tonic24k - 1/10/2020, 10:52 AM

@Oberlin4Prez - Came here to say this same exact thing. Why are we stuck on horror directors here when Feige just announced recently it will have frightening sequences but won't be a horror movie.

Comicbookart - 1/10/2020, 10:21 AM

lmao. Panos Cosmatos?! No chance at all.

There's a tweet where someone recommended Maatt Shakman, since he's worked on Wandavision and the stories will connect. But most of the directors here won't accept.

Also this film might be straying away from the horror route which means these horror directors won't even be considered.

SpideyPuffsMJ - 1/10/2020, 10:26 AM

Alex Garland would be great, but he, along with all of these choices would need a blank slate. I hope they delay production to actually let a director film their vision properly. Unfortunately, this movie's taken so long to begin with I don't believe Marvel's willing to do that and I'm nervous we'll get a Peyton Reed type to come in and put a period on Scott Derrickson and the studio's half-baked vision.

GhostDog - 1/10/2020, 10:28 AM

None of them would do it except maybe Amirpour and Wheatley.

PBIRD - 1/10/2020, 1:05 PM

@BlackBeltJones - I think his replacement should be
Miguel Sapochnik
That's a brilliant director that knows how to make other people's screenplays come to life

GhostDog - 1/10/2020, 1:13 PM

@PBIRD - nice choice. I really liked Repo Men and I know he did some GOT episodes.

PBIRD - 1/10/2020, 2:39 PM

@BlackBeltJones - they would bring him in for the epic episodes. Battle of the Bastards, the one where Dany burned kings landing to the ground... just the epic ones.

GhostDog - 1/10/2020, 10:33 AM

@TheDoctor1225 - Peele not too long ago said he has no interest in doing any franchise film that's not his own idea. He only wants to do original movies.

KWilly - 1/10/2020, 10:51 AM

@BlackBeltJones - Which I highly respect

GhostDog - 1/10/2020, 10:53 AM

@KWilly - yea you can't really fault him for that.

Something about your own complete ideas coming to life.

Canon108 - 1/10/2020, 4:33 PM

@BlackBeltJones - he also said he'd never direct a film with a white protagonist.

Comicbookart - 1/10/2020, 10:28 AM

Ruben Fleischer might have a chance since he can direct elements of horror while retaining a comedic tone that Marvel is known for.

Most likely the director replacement will probably be a director no one has really heard of and whose movies very few people have seen.

ThorArms - 1/10/2020, 10:31 AM

This really sucks. I was looking forward to some good horror elements from Marvel. I didn't really like the first Strange solo flick so my hype has gone down for sure.

DavidMullich - 1/10/2020, 10:58 AM

@ThorArms - If you didn't really like the first Strange solo flick (I wasn't thrilled by it either), then why are you less pleased to hear that its director won't be doing the sequel?

ThorArms - 1/10/2020, 11:36 AM

@DavidMullich - The first Strange felt very much like a 'studio' movie that Marvel wanted to play safe due to how, well, Strange Dr. Strange's universe could be to general audiences. I think Derrickson, when allowed to break loose and do his own thing (horror included), could've made something really cool. But who knows? That was just my take on it.

Typhoon20 - 1/10/2020, 3:06 PM

@ObiWan - Sinister was good.

ThorArms - 1/10/2020, 5:59 PM

@ObiWan - Also true! I liked Sinister

SpideyPuffsMJ - 1/10/2020, 10:39 AM

Peele is a mystery to me. I really liked Get Out but thought Us and his Twilight Zone reboot were both forgettable and kinda dumb.

Spock0Clock - 1/10/2020, 10:44 AM

@SpideyPuffsMJ - Us was such a big swing and it really offered a great opportunity for the cast to get weird and abstract that I have to respect it, even if I didn't love it as a movie. Didn't see his Twilight Zone stuff, though.

1 2 3

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DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS: 8 Directors We'd Like To See Replace Scott Derrickson

Last night, it was announced that Scott Derrickson had parted ways with Doctor Strange 2 and that Marvel was already searching for a new director. Here are our top 8 picks for potential replacements...

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