Marvel Studios is looking for a female director for Captain Marvel 2, and here are some potentially great fits. Following confirmation at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 that the studio had plans to make a sequel to Captain Marvel, Marvel is finally making progress. It was recently revealed that Megan McDonnell is in final negotiations to write the script ahead of a possible 2022 release date. That timetable puts Captain Marvel 2 on a pretty fast schedule.

The Brie Larson led sequel is set to undergo some changes behind the camera. Included in the reports that Captain Marvel 2 was moving forward came word that Marvel Studios is looking for a new director to take over the franchise. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck co-directed the original film, which was met with mostly positive reviews and grossed over $1 billion worldwide. The decision for them not to return for the sequel appears to be amicable though, as they might direct one of the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe shows on Disney+.

The search for a new director for Captain Marvel 2 coincides with Marvel already trying to figure out who will take over Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While the latter is the priority, they will also need to find the right woman to helm Captain Marvel 2 rather quickly. There are a lot of different potential candidates for the job, many of whom may have already met with Marvel Studios in the past, but here are the female directors we’d most like to see lead Captain Marvel 2.

Lorene Scafaria

As Marvel Studios searches for Captain Marvel 2’s director, Lorene Scafaria is someone who could prove to be a great choice. Scafaria got her start in comedy with Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and episodes of New Girl, so her humor could fit nicely within the MCU. She is also fresh off directing Hustlers, one of the surprise hits of 2019. The female ensemble film led by Constance Wu and Jennifer Lopez saw Scafaria bring an electric energy to the story and proved she can handle ensemble casts. She’s the type of rising director that Marvel Studios loves to work with, and they already have shown an interest in working together. Scafaria was among the contenders to direct Captain Marvel a few years ago. Marvel may circle back around to her now that Captain Marvel 2 could use her services, as long as the mutual interest remains.

Reed Morano

Another rising director that Marvel Studios could also approach for Captain Marvel 2 is Reed Morano. The longtime cinematographer broke onto the scene with her directorial debut Meadowland in 2015 and has since directed episodes of Halt and Catch Fire, Billions, and The Handmaid’s Tale. This filmography has put her in contention for a lot of high profile jobs already. She was rumored to be one of Warner Bros.’ top choices to direct a Supergirl solo film, and Morano has also met with Kathleen Kennedy about a potential job in the Star Wars franchise. To this point, neither of those have been confirmed to be in Morano’s future. Now, with the release of the Blake Lively spy action/thriller The Rhythm Section nearing, she could be moments away from further elevating her profile. Since she’s previously expressed some interest in telling Carol Danvers’ story, now could be the right time for Morano to bring her character-driven style to the MCU.

Olivia Wilde

Speaking of Morano and up-and-coming female directors, Marvel Studios would also be wise to consider Meadowland star turned director Olivia Wilde. It was only last year that Wilde stepped behind the camera after years of acting, and what came out of that decision was one of the best films of 2019. Booksmart has all the makings of a classic coming-of-age tale and showed that Wilde has what it takes as a director. She’s already snagged multiple projects because of this success, but a move to the MCU would be a different level. If Marvel is interested in Wilde, the good news is that she’s open to working with them too. She said last year that she’d “absolutely” direct a Marvel movie. The modern comedy and fresh approach to a routine genre she brought to Booksmart, along with an excellent story based around friendship, could work nicely with Carol Danvers’ next adventure.

Niki Caro

After suggesting some options without blockbuster experience, Marvel Studios may not need to look too far to find someone with that on their resume if need be. Niki Caro may be best known for films like Whale Rider, McFarland USA, or The Zookeeper’s Wife, but she most recently worked on Disney’s live-action Mulan remake. After tackling one of Disney’s biggest films of 2020, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Marvel look her way if Disney is happy with her work. Caro was even in consideration to direct the first Captain Marvel film, so some interest already exists. Marvel doesn’t usually mandate that directors have a history with the scale of a Marvel film or working with CGI, but that also doesn’t hurt. So if Marvel is looking for someone with a bit more experience, then Caro could be the one to call for Captain Marvel 2.

Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Another name Marvel Studios once considered for Captain Marvel who could be considered for the sequel is Jennifer Yuh Nelson. After making a name for herself with the animated Kung Fu Panda franchise, Nelson recently made her live-action debut as a director with 2018’s The Darkest Minds. The YA book adaptation has plenty of superhero elements, giving Nelson some feel for how to potentially handle Carol’s power set. Even though the film wasn’t a box office or critical hit, the falts of it came more from the story than Nelson’s direction. With better material, there’s reason to believe that Nelson could deliver a quality sequel. Tackling Captain Marvel 2 could be a good more for Nelson’s career too, while also giving Marvel Studios someone that can adequately handle a larger budget.

Kari Skogland

One final possible contender for Captain Marvel 2 could be someone Marvel Studios is currently working with. Kari Skogland is a prominent TV director who has worked on high profile shows like The Loudest Voice, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Punisher, The Walking Dead, House of Cards, and The Americans. But, Skogland is also currently directing all six episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier for Marvel Studios and Disney+. Marvel has already pulled talent from the streaming service too, as Captain Marvel 2 writer Megan McDonnell comes from WandaVision. After taking a writer from Disney+, Marvel Studios could do the same with the director and bring Skogland aboard. Her experience in multiple genres potentially makes her an ideal candidate for the job as she can handle any approach Marvel has in mind.

MORE: Marvel’s Disney+ Shows Are Super Important To Captain Marvel 2

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