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EXCLUSIVE: Marvel Studios has found its Thor 2 director. I’m told that Marvel has set Alan Taylor, who was widely rumored to be on the short list to replace Patty Jenkins. Taylor is an accomplished TV director whose recent credits include Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and Nurse Jackie, and he directed the feature Palookaville. Jenkins got the job but then fell out over differences with Marvel on the sequel.
This will put the film back on track to meet its November 15, 2013 release date. The sequel brings back Chris Hemsworth as the hammer-wielding superhero, from a script by Thor co-writer Don Payne. The Kenneth Branagh-directed original grossed $448 million worldwide and launched the star of Hemsworth, who reprised Thor in The Avengers and then played the latter title role opposite Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron in Snow White and the Huntsman for Universal. Taylor is repped by UTA.
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Don’t forget Sopranos, Mad Men, and Six Feet Under. Alan Taylor is an inspired choice!
He also directed a little pilot called Mad Men.
I would have preferred Brad Bird but good luck to Mr. Taylor. I’ll be early in line when it opens.
The last film Taylor directed was literally 16 years ago.
We all thought Marvel would have cash to burn and spare no expense on their films after Disney acquired the company. Instead, they are even cheaper and greedier than ever. The only thing less expensive than hiring a TV director is to hire a free director.
So, from your POV, because he’s a TV director, he must be really cheap and untalented?You may want to tell that to Joss Whedon and JJ Abrams, who jumped from only directing TV to directing Firefly and MI:3, and are now directing huge franchises like Avengers and Star Trek.
And what about Patty Jenkins?You say Taylor hasn’t directed a film in 16 years, but Jenkins hasn’t directed one in 8 years.That’s not as long, but it’s still long.
At least he’s been busy.Since his feature film, he’s directed about 60 TV episodes, a lot of them from critically acclaimed, cinematic series.Jenkins has directed a total of 4 TV episodes since her feature film.And 3 of those were comedies.
You say Marvel is going cheap with this TV director, but I can’t imagine Jenkins costing anymore than Taylor.I can’t imagine him being any less talented.
Actually, the last film he directed was 8 years ago, not 16. He directed his first film 16 years ago. All his film and television work tell stories from an emotional character standpoint. Anyone who has worked with this guy loves him. He doesn’t demand respect, he COMMANDS respect. As producing director of “Game Of Thrones” he runs one of the most ambitious, large scoped productions, complete with CGI, that HBO has ever undertaken. He has brought his cinematic taste to television, advancing the filmic standard set for television. Someone like that deserves the shot. I am looking forward to Thor 2, in anticipation of it being better than the first film. Hooray for Alan!
It’s no secret that Marvel is through giving their properties to “filmmakers.” Taylor is a good choice and his direction is assured and strong, if workmanlike. Marvel wants their films to hit all the notes and nothing more. Spectacle over substance. Nothing to think about. MOve along.
Everyone who doesn’t believe in this guy should see two final episodes of first season of Game of Thrones. What he acomplished with TV budget is unbelieviable.
Also his Sopranos and Mad Men episodes, top notch stuff. Alan Taylor kicks ass!
He directed the great, penultimate episode of “Game of Thrones,” called ‘Baelor.’ It was maybe the best single episode of TV from last year. I bet it was his work there that earned him his stripes to take on such a major feature for Marvel.
Nothing that Hollywood has done this year can equal Game Of Thrones. In fact in the past decade the top cable shows, like Thrones, Breaking Bad, The Wire, The Shield, Boardwalk Empire, etc have all put the silver screen to shame. I got into the Sopranos years back because I’d go to the video store and when I couldn’t find a movie to rent my go-to would be to rent a disc of the Sopranos. Consistently that was the best choice to make.
Couldn’t agree more. TV is in a golden age.
Thank Odin…What were they thinking hiring Jenkins in the first place? I hardly see how any of her work would translate to a film with the score of Thor. Well done, Feige, near disaster averted.
It seems anyone directing a Marvel sequel is given a checklist by the studio of plot points to hit and a tiny budget to work with. Taylor could be an inspired choice, but I don’t think he’ll have the creative freedom to spread his wings.
Yeah, there was more emotion in “Baelor” than in the first “Thor” — I think he’s a fine choice!
He directed The Playboy Club pilot and that was just awful. And didn’t he argue with Matt Weiner on Mad Men.
Actually, the playboy club pilot was re-shot after extensive network notes (and micro management) by another director entirely (Leslie Linka Glatter). In fact, there was nearly a half hour of Alan’s pilot replaced by new scenes and footage. Having seen the original pilot of The Playboy Club, I can say that it was much better and organic than the final pilot cut.
Didn’t the half the world’s population argue with Matt Weiner on Mad Men?
I’ve worked with countless TV directors, and with many film directors (including 2 academy award winners)- I can say, without hesitation, that Alan Taylor is easily one of the most capable, personable, and effective directors with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working.
I didn’t like the first movie at all, but if anyone can make this fly, he can.
Some might argue that Star Trek “launched the star of Hemsworth”. It was clear from a mere two minutes in that film that he was a star.
Good point. I always credit JJ with that incredible opening sequence but it wouldn’t have been the same without him.
Great praise for Mr. Taylor here, and that’s encouraging. However the questions remain:
1. As someone has pointed out, with a title like this and in the (inevitably 3D) superhero genre, as accomplished as Taylor is, he’s got no experience in either superhero storylines or with 3D. With the kind of money Marvel has on hand, wouldn’t it make more sense to play it safe and hire someone with a proven track record in both mediums?
2. TV directors (even good ones) do not always make great film auteurs. The primary issue at stake is hoping they can stretch their 30 min or 1 hour episodic talent into 2 hours or more. This is not as easy as it may seem to many of you. Which leads back to the first question: why even take the chance of ruining the franchise with resources readily on tap??
I’m hoping Disney is asking themselves these questions before issuing their stamp of approval here..
Since when is directing a superhero franchise the work of a ‘film auteur’?
ref your first point surely his inexperience with superheroes and 3D is irrelevant as Branagh had none either but still managed a decent film
Pity he never wrapped on time while shooting Game of Theones…
Well, this is fine. Just so long as it’s a man directing Thor 2. Letting a chick get near a comic-book flick? Sorry, that reeked of pure failure.
It. Was ok
It’s amazing the ignorance that permeates the comments here sometimes. Many filmmakers started out just as that – FILM-makers. Then, the competitive reality of the “biz” – the same biz that allows hair stylists to run studios; fashion models to become talented actors; and biochemistry majors to represent/discover “talent;” – and many of these trained and studied directors need to eat. So, TV becomes an option; commercials, music videos, industrials, even theatre.
Paul Haggis won an Oscar for directing “Crash;” Wow! Ain’t that the guy who wrote for “The Facts Of Life?” Stanley Kubrick did what? He took pictures for “LOOK” magazine? Tarantino is a HS dropout?
I’m sure many of you would be surprised at how feature film “learned” Alan Taylor is or Patty Jenkins is.
Cant wait till it hit the big screen
Taylor is the real deal. Good for him.
Alan Taylor is a genius. Anyone who has ever worked with him and wasn’t competing with him will say so. He has a vision and he knows how to listen. And if you haven’t worked with him, what are you basing any of your commentary on? In TV, the director makes the show, but he doesn’t break it. There’s too many people involved on a tv show to blame the director for it’s failure – however, the flavor comes from the director. Alan Taylor sweetens everything he works on. Spoken from experience.