Want to know what Christopher Nolan has to say about Batman AND Superman?

Well, look no further than this article from Coming Soon:

Empire magazine talked to Christopher Nolan, whose new film Inception opens July 16, and got some great quotes from the helmer on the next Batman movie, coming July 20, 2012, and next Superman movie, targeted for a holiday 2012 release.

It was recently revealed that he would take on a mentor (or "godfather") role for the Superman movie, but he's not that comfortable with that title. "It's much more specific than that," he explained, "What it is, while David Goyer and myself were putting together the story for another Batman film a few years ago - you know, thrashing out where we might move on from 'The Dark Knight' - we got stuck. We were just sitting there idly chatting and he said, ' By the way, I think I know how you approach Superman,' and he told me his take on it. I thought it was really tremendous. It was the first time I had been able to conceive of how you would address Superman in a modern context. I thought it was a very exciting idea."

Nolan said he took that idea and pitched it to Warner Bros., and the studio got excited, too. "But it's not something for me to direct," he added. "It's something we were just trying to put together a vision for, and then find the right person to take it forward."

What's important to Nolan is finding the core of what makes the character so indelible; he favors the back-to-basics approach. "What you have to remember with both Batman and Superman," he told the magazine, "is that what makes those the best superhero characters there are, the most beloved after all this time, is the essence of who those characters were when they were created and when they were first developed. And you can't ever move too far from that."

He still hasn't officially signed on to direct new Batman movie. "No I haven't. There is a point where you're just being precious about it and people get annoyed, but the God's honest truth is I work on one movie at a time. I'm only capable of doing that, so my head will continue to be firmly in ['Inception'] for another few months."
There are some things, though, that Nolan can confirm. "My brother is working on the screenplay. We came up with a story that we are very excited about. We particularly like where we are taking the characters and what the ending is... There are things for me to be very excited about in addressing the characters again. But ultimately it always comes down to the script, and can we make a great film from this? That's something I will firmly be turning my attention to figuring out fairly soon." It will be, he said, "the finishing of a story rather than infinitely blowing up the balloon and expanding the story."

Empire asked whether the villain could be a returning (and recast) Joker. "No," said Nolan resisting to elaborate, "I just don't feel comfortable about it."

Nolan reiterated that you won't be seeing a Batman/Superman crossover in his movies. "Marvel are doing what they do and people will respond to that really well, or they won't," said Nolan. "It's not something I ever really applied a blanket rule to, but Marvel characters are very different to DC characters, and the key DC characters are very different to the minor DC characters. You've got to go back to that element of, 'What do I see when I close my eyes and think of Batman? What do I see when I close my eyes and think of Superman?' And for me a big part of that is their individuality. They are extraordinary beings in an ordinary world. And the reason I think the two are fascinating is because Superman is very specifically superpowered and obviously otherworldly; Batman is very human and flawed. They're two very different characters, but there's an elemental feeling of power in the iconography of those characters. To me that's originally because they stood alone. I need to hang on to that in my imagining of them."

-Very interesting quotes there...thoughts?

Jennifer Lawrence adds a horror flick to her upcoming slate...

...continuing her rise in profile, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

Jennifer Lawrence and Max Thieriot are starring in "House at the End of the Street," a horror thriller from FilmNation and A Bigger Boat being directed by Mark Tonderai.

"House" centers on a teen girl (Lawrence) who moves with her mom to a new town and learns that their home is across the street from a house where a double murder took place. Complications ensue when the teen befriends the massacre's sole surviving son (Thieriot).

The project is looking to be to "Psycho" what "Disturbia" was to "Rear Window."

FilmNation's Aaron Ryder and Peter Block of A Bigger Boat are producing with Tim Williams, Hal Lieberman and Jonathan Mostow. Mostow wrote the story on which the script, written by David Loucka, is based.

Producers are looking at a mid-July start in Ottawa.

The CAA-repped Lawrence stars in "Winter's Bone," an indie drama due out this year, and recently wrapped production on "The Beaver," starring Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson.

The Gersh-repped Thieriot has tested for leads in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and "Justice League" and in the fall is toplining Wes Craven's "My Soul to Take."

-I'm interested to see her in more things...thoughts?

'Buried' gets a cool new Poster!

Thoughts?

Brett Ratner gets his hands on Snow White...

...and you can blame the success of Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' for it, according to Deadline:

The billion dollar worldwide gross of Alice in Wonderland has turned public domain fairy tales into the hottest segment of an otherwise sluggish script marketplace. In the latest deal, Relativity Media has made a preemptive acquisition of The Brothers Grimm: Snow White, an edgy 3D re-imagining of the German folk tale written by Melisa Wallack. Wallack's script work includes The Dallas Buyer's Club, and she wrote and directed the 2007 Aaron Eckhart-starrer Bill.

The deal has aggressive progress to production stipulations in the preemptive deal and I'm told the writer will make low seven-figures if the project gets made. ICM repped the writer. The Brothers Grimm: Snow White will be produced by Bernie Goldmann (who produced Meet Bill), Ryan Kavanaugh and Brett Ratner, with Tucker Tooley exec producing and Rat Entertainment exec John Cheng also involved in a producing capacity. Ratner previously got Kavanaugh to acquire the Sundance Film Festival documentary Catfish, and most recently Skyline, the scifi alien invasion thriller directed by Greg and Colin Strause which sold at Cannes.

Deal follows an upfront seven-figure Disney pitch deal for Devil Wears Prada scribe Aline Brosh McKenna to script a re-imagining of Cinderella. Disney also is moving quickly on The Great and Powerful Oz, with Adam Shankman and Timur Bekmambetov circling. Sam Mendes just dropped out of consideration, but there is rumor that Guillermo del Toro might meet on the project now that he's free of The Hobbit. Warner Bros and New Line each have version of Oz that are based on the public domain books by L. Frank Baum.

All of the incarnations of Snow White are based on the German folk tale, but this one hews closely to the distillation by the Grimm Brothers.

"This is not your grandfather's Snow White," Ratner said. "Melisa went back to the 500 year old folk tale and put in some of the things that were missing from Walt Disney's film. His dwarves were miners, and here they are robbers. There is also a dragon that was in the original folk tale. Walt made one of the great movies of all time, but ours is edgy and there is more comedy. The original, made for its time, was soft compared to what we're going to do."

Said Kavanaugh: "This is a project we've aggressively pursued and believe in. We love Melisa Wallack's script and her fresh take on the classic story we all grew up on. This film will bring together fans of the original fair tale and draw new audiences who enjoy adventure films."

-Thoughts?

Is Jeremy Renner going to be playing Hawkeye in 'The Avengers'?

According to Collider, yes:

When it comes to Marvel casting this week, we’re getting incrementally closer to the real thing. The Josh Holloway item was just a rumor. Neil McDonough is “in talks” to play Dum Dum Dugan. But Jeremy Renner has been talking to Marvel about playing Clint Barton for some time, and now the actor is in “final negotiations” to join The Avengers as Hawkeye.

Renner’s star rose considerably over the last year after his Oscar-nominated turn in The Hurt Locker, which opened up such opportunities as Peter Berg’s adaptation of Battleship and Paul Thomas Anderson’s untitled opus on religion. Renner seems to have passed on Battleship, and the Anderson film could take awhile to come together, so the actor remains a free agent ready to don Hawkeye’s purple bow.

The ensemble cast required for The Avengers, which Joss Whedon (Firefly) will direct, is approaching completion. There’s Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man (of course), Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johanssen as Black Widow, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. (Of course, the big missing piece is Hulk — no deal has been made with Edward Norton to reprise his role from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk.) Heat Vision reports that, to keep the budget under control, Marvel has talked all the featured players into a paycut.

This is all shaping up pretty fantastically. Renner is a great get, and if there is any legitimacy to the Josh Holloway rumor (as Ant-Man, perhaps?)… I would apparently be at a loss for words.

-I dig Renner in this role, personally...thoughts?

Here are two character Posters for 'Predators'!

Thoughts?

Daniel Craig to star in the remake of 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'?

The Wrap sure seems to think so:

One of the biggest roles in Hollywood is about to be taken off the table.

Daniel Craig is nearing a deal to take the lead role in a U.S. adaptation of the Swedish blockbuster trilogy, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," TheWrap has learned.

David Fincher will direct the crime thriller, based on a trilogy by the late Swedish novelist and journalist Stieg Larsson.

Actresses including Oscar-nominated Carey Mulligan have expressed interest in playing Lisbeth Salander, a computer hacker recruited by a journalist to find a woman who has been missing for 40 years. That part has not yet been cast, and other actresses including Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman have also expressed interest.

Craig would play journalist Mikael Blomkvist who is looking for the missing woman, Harriet Banger.

A Sony spokesman said, "We have not offered any roles to anyone nor are we negotiating with anyone."

While Brad Pitt has been reportedly considering the lead role, an individual close to the negotiations said that Craig was close to a deal. The James Bond star will fly out to Los Angeles on Friday to have dinner with Fincher, who's slated to direct the three-picture franchise for Sony.

The movie will shoot in October, and is slated for release in December 2011.

Larsson's "Millennium Trilogy," which includes "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo," "The Girl Who Played With Fire," and "The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest," has sold over 25 million copies around the world.

A Danish film adaptation of "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" was released last year and has been playing internationally.

Negotiations between Craig and Sony aren't entirely finished, but TheWrap was told he's extremely close to signing. Brad Pitt was also reportedly considering the role.

Craig begins shooting on Jon Favreau's "Cowboys & Aliens" next week. "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" would be his next movie.

-He certainly works for me...thoughts?

Fox Searchlight tries to go the 'Slumdog' route again...

...according to Collider:

In what some may see as an attempt to recapture the Oscar/box office magic of Slumdog Millionaire, Fox Searchlight will adapt the Deborah Moggach novel These Foolish Things for the screen. With the new title The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, the film will follow “a movie about a group of British senior citizens who travel to India to live out their dotage — an outsourcing, after a fashion— and find a new lease on life.”

24 Frames reports that Fox Searchlight is reaching out to Julie Christie, Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, and Peter O’Toole to star. (For those keeping track, there are twenty Oscar nominations in that group.) Meanwhile, Slumdog star Dev Patelis in talks to co-star, and John Madden (Shakespeare in Love) is on the top of the studio’s director wishlist. Hit the jump for the synopsis for These Foolish Things.

-I wonder if they can catch lightning in a bottle twice...thoughts?

Did 'I Love You Phillip Morris' get delayed again?

It seems to have, according to Cinematical:

Jim Carrey's had a rough go of it lately, movie-wise, and I Love You Phillip Morris is a prime example. Morris, which costars Ewan McGregor, was initially planned to hit theaters in spring 2009 -- check out a promo image of it from 2008 here -- and premiered at that year's Sundance Festival. Based on the true crime novel by Steve Mcvicker about Steven Russell (Carrey), a married man who ends up in jail and falls in love with his cellmate, Philip Morris (McGregor); in real life, Russell broke out of jail several times, but his ultimate desire was to help Morris escape as well. In the movie, Russell is released from jail but desperate to spring his lover as well, which requires him to pull off a number of capers in order to free Morris and get enough money so they can live a life of luxury on the run.

Unfortunately, it's been delayed for several years for a variety of reasons, and the latest is a legal snafu between its US distributor, Consolidated, and EuropaCorp, the financial backing company started by Luc Besson. The ongoing legal shuffle about finances and they said/we said court tussles is summed up over at Reuters; basically, EuropaCorp says that Consolidated owes them $3 million, Consolidated says EuropaCorp didn't live up to its end of the bargain, and EuropaCorp struck back with a lawsuit "alleging breach of contract and copyright infringement." In April, Deadline reported that EuropaCorp was actually working out a deal with Newmarket to distribute the movie.


Still with me? The latest is that a California judge has sided with EuropaCorp, issuing a preliminary injunction stopping the release of Morris for the time being; the case is headed for arbitration.

Consolidated is apparently aiming for an October release, but if we've learned anything, it's that it will probably be a long time until we get to see what sounds like a cool crime film with a romantic twist, and another chance for Carrey to show off his ability to pull off a more serious movie.

-Hopefully this gets resolved soon...thoughts?

Here's a first look at what Captain America might look like!

Thoughts?

Will the summer movie season be a wasteland for sequels?

It's a possibility, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

Hollywood still hopes to shake off early symptoms, but there is spreading concern that the summer boxoffice will be plagued by a nasty case of sequelitis.

Conditions are ripe: Studios have planted 11 sequels or franchise reboots in the fertile May-August span, up from nine last summer and seven from the 2008 season. But those opened so far have underwhelmed, with seasonal boxoffice off by a double-digit margin and studio executives beginning to feel woozy.

Most recently, Warner Bros.' "Sex and the City 2" was expected to outpace its 2008 predecessor and top the Memorial Day weekend. Instead, it lagged the original's bow dramatically and debuted with a tarnished bronze medal, trailing even Disney's disappointing "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time." (A would-be franchise starter, "Persia" will need outsized international contributions to reach profitability.)

DreamWorks Animation's "Shrek Forever After" finished first in the frame. But that was of limited relief, as the Paramount-distributed four-quel missed consensus forecasts for its opening by a nauseating $30 million.

Reaction to the latest disappointments came swiftly.

"There very well could be some burnout with moviegoers, who are looking for something new and fresh," a top studio exec lamented Tuesday.

Not everything has been doom and gloom.

Summer's first tentpole release, Paramount's "Iron Man 2," soon should top $300 million after initially disappointing those hoping the Robert Downey Jr. starrer would kick-start the all-important season with a record bow.

But the desultory outings of "Shrek Forever" and "Sex 2" have many seeing signs of franchise fatigue.

"Watching the decline of 'Sex and the City 2' every day has really surprised us," another top industyite said.

The New Line-produced dramedy fetched $14.2 million in its first day of release Thursday but at least $2 million less each day since.

Still, it's possible to explain each pic's disappointment individually.

Expectations of a summer-launching record opening by the "Iron Man" sequel probably were unrealistic, and the second-week traction by "Shrek Forever" suggests a run as leggy as most family pics. As for "Sex 2," the TV series leading to the big-screen franchise ended a distant six years ago.

Film-specific explanations for boxoffice wobbles have some predicting smoother sailing through the balance of the sequel-filled summer. But it's too soon to tell if Hollywood can quell its boxoffice maladies before contagion spreads.

The next sequel set to hit multi¬plexes is Disney/Pixar's "Toy Story 3," which nobody expects to have any difficulty generating impressive boxoffice when it opens June 18.

"The interest is immense," Disney distribution topper Chuck Viane said.

Remakes such as Sony's June 11 opener "The Karate Kid" also will be watched carefully. But pre¬release interest in the reimagined "Kid" appears high, and its comparisons with decades-old boxoffice figures won't be difficult.

So it's possible the best test of moviegoers' attitudes won't come until June 30, when Summit Entertainment sends out the "Twilight" threequel "Eclipse."

All signs point to enormous interest among the fanged franchise's young fan base. But perception is often reality with boxoffice success, so could the vampire romance open well but still be deemed a failure?

Not bloody likely, said a distribution topper at a rival studio citing tracking data.

"Expectations can get out of hand, but I would put the 'Twlight' picture down for a $125 million opening right now," the industryite said. "That's huge."

Just not as huge as the opening posted by the franchise's first sequel: "New Moon" bowed with $142.8 million in November.

Rentrak data show summer boxoffice is off 21% so far at $813 million. The season starts on the first Friday of May and got a one-weekend head start May 1 last year.

Adding in one weekend from the end of spring cuts industry underperformance to 12%. But ticket-price inflation since last summer means admissions are off more significantly.

-How do you think these sequels will end up doing?

Chloe Moretz adds another project to her growing slate...

...and this seems like her most mature work yet, according to Cinematical:

Hit-Girl's career continues to barrel forward, this time with her first big, starring dramatic gig. Variety reports that Chloe Moretz will star in Andrea Portes' adaptation of her 2007 novel, Hick, and Derick Martini, one half of the Martini Brothers behind Lymelife, will direct.

Portes' debut book focuses on a Nebraska girl named Luli who runs away to Las Vegas. Her mother -- an "aging Brigitte Bardot" -- and father have run off, leaving Luli alone at home with a Smith and Wesson .45. She grabs the gun and starts hitching rides to Vegas, where she faces a number of unsafe and unsavory types from a drug addict to a rapist. In other words, it basically takes the cinematically adventurous kid-on-his-own story of Moretz's Hugo Cabret and gives it a heavy and unsafe dose of reality.

Something tells me that Moretz is done with the 100 Acre Wood. After a decent stint lending her voice to My Friends Tigger & Pooh, she quickly jumped up to the typical wise-for-her-years Rachel in (500) Days of Summer before becoming the "It" Girl Hit-Girl and snagging a number of lead roles in the likes of The Fields, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and this fall's vampire romance Let Me In. Think she's ready for something a little heavier, or does this sort of drama just reek of Dakota Fanning territory?

-Thoughts?

Dustin Lance Black to tackle a graphic novel for his next project as a writer/director?

Apparently so, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. has picked up movie rights to "3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man," a Dark Horse Comics graphic novel by Matt Kindt.

Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar-winning writer of "Milk," will pen and direct the adaptation, which will be produced by Mike Richardson via Dark Horse Entertainment.

The graphic novel is a modern fable, exploring the life of a giant man, Craig Pressgang, whose strange medical condition causes continuous growth. The tale is told from the point of view of three women -- his mother, wife and daughter -- and follows Craig's journey from birth to his eventual three-story height. It also serves as an exploration of loneliness and love's changing nature.

The acquisition by Warners is an eyebrow-raising move because the material is on the arty side and downbeat, too. But the studio responded to Black's take, which would focus on the father-daughter relationship and soften the melancholic ending.

Dark Horse's Keith Goldberg will executive produce.

Lynn Harris and Matthew Milam are overseeing for Warners.

Dark Horse is developing "R.I.P.D." at Universal, with Ryan Reynolds attached to star, as well as "The Umbrella Academy," also at Universal, and "Damn Nation" at Paramount.

"3 Story" represents a move into the studio world for the CAA-repped Black, who won an Oscar for original screenwriting fo "Milk," the Gus Van Sant-directed biopic of Harvey Milk.

Black made his directorial debut with the indie drama "What's Wrong With Virginia," which stars Emma Roberts and Jennifer Connelly. He also wrote the screenplay for the pic, which does not have a release date.

Black also wrote the screenplay for Clint Eastwood's latest project, "Hoover," about the legendary head of the FBI, and recently penned and produced episodes of HBO's "Big Love."

-He's a talented writer, and I'm interested to see how he does as a director...thoughts?

Today's Posters: Gulliver's Travels, Resident Evil: Afterlife, and Joan Rivers

Thoughts?

It's one of the worst weeks for DVD in a while...

...though it features one very profitable film, not that it matters to me. For my requisite PICK OF THE WEEK, I had to go with a tiny film that's decently good, but not extraordinary in any real way. It's:
Tony Manero
This Chilean suspense film has an interesting concept, but underwhelmed me when I saw it. There's nothing overtly wrong with a film that seems like American Psycho meets Saturday Night Fever (though it's not on the level of either of those flicks), but it just didn't set my world on fire. That being said, it's easily the best of the bunch this week, so if you're determined to make a purchase on a new release, this is where my recommendation lies.
-Also out this week are two awful films in Alice in Wonderland and The Wolfman. Alice made a boatload of money, but it ranks as perhaps Tim Burton's worst film to me. Wolfie is supposed to be better with its Director's Cut, but it won't ever make it into my Blu-Ray player, so I'll never know. If either of these films worked for you, grab them and enjoy, but they did nothing for me.
-My Vintage pick this week is, in honor of the release of Get Him to the Greek, the film that inspired it. It's Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and I absolutely adore this awkward romantic comedy. It's hilarious and touching, well worth a second (or third, or fourth) viewing.
-What will you be watching on DVD this week?

Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming religion film potentially adds a few women to its cast!

Here's the story from Collider:

With director Paul Thomas Anderson’s (There Will be Blood) upcoming untitled religion film is getting ready to begin production this month, so we should expect some casting news in the coming weeks. The sure to be great (and controversial) film will be about “a charismatic intellectual who hatches a faith-based organization that begins to catch on in America in 1952.” Philip Seymour Hoffman has already been confirmed for the lead role of “The Master” and he’ll be joined by Jeremy Renner, who will be playing a drifter named Freddy who becomes the leader’s lieutenant. Last week we also reported that Reese Witherspoon was being offered the role of The Master’s much younger pregnant wife, Mary Sue

Now, Production Weekly (via The Playlist) is reporting that Amanda Seyfried (Dear John), Emma Stone (Zombieland), and Deborah Ann Woll (True Blood) are all being considered for the role of Elizabeth, The Master and Mary-Sue’s daughter. We’ll know soon enough who gets the part but with Seyfried filming The Girl With The Riding Hood and Stone filming The Help soon, it will be interesting to see how the schedules shake out. I’m sure Anderson will get a great performance out of the actress he ends up choosing but I do think it’s fascinating that all three actresses are in their 20s and will be playing the daughter of Reese Witherspoon, who is 34 years old. The Playlist says that in a previous draft of the script, the role was smaller but now may have been expanded. They also say it “will be an eye opener for any fans of the actress who lands the role.”

-I like what PTA is doing so far, and what I've read about the script sounds great...thoughts?

Who might end up directing 'The Hobbit' now?

Well, here's a list from Hit Fix (the whole article can be found here) that goes into who some of the possibilities (realistic and not) might be:

THE DREAM CHOICES

Steven Spielberg
Best known for: Being one of the greatest filmmakers in history.
Why: It took him quite awhile to commit to direct "War Horse" and his heart may not truly be in it. He's already worked with Jackson as a collaborator on "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn." The legendary director has also recently waxed about wanting to create an immersive world like James Cameron did in "Avatar." Can you say "The Hobbit" in 3-D?
Available: If he delays the recently announced "War Horse," yes.
Would he do it: There a lot of bumps to get over to make it happen. First off, two years is a long time for Spielberg to commit to and its doubtful he'd spend a year shooting in New Zealand instead wanting to move much of the production to sound stages in LA (not cheap). "War Horse" is also a new DreamWorks film and delaying it would mean waiting over three years for Spielberg to direct a feature for his recently rebooted studio. That would not make investors Disney and Reliance very happy. More importantly, could his ego stand being, effectively, the "second choice" after del Toro departed?

Tim Burton
Best known for: "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Edward Scissorhands"
Why: Has virtually become a cinematic "brand" having created a legacy of iconic characters and memorable movie images.
Available: No? He's supposed to be prepping "Dark Shadows" for Warner Bros, but you'd have to guess the studio would let him delay that flick to work on their own "Hobbit."
Would he do it: Burton is hardly one to be meddlesome with scripts, but Jackson would have to give him huge leeway to present his own unique vision of Middle-earth.

Alfonso Cuaron
Best known for: "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," "Children of Men"
Why: One of the finest filmmakers of his generation who can easily segue from "Y tu mama tambien" to "Harry Potter."
Available: At the moment no. His new sci-fi thriller "Gravity" is about to begin production for Warner Bros. Afterward? Another story.
Would he do it: Considering he is good friends with del Toro he'd have to be intrigued, but the timing seems as though it could be off.


THE SAFE SECOND TIER

Robert Zemeckis
Best known for: "Back to the Future," "Forest Gump"
Why: Arguably one of the most creative commercial filmmakers over the last 30 years who just happened to be overshadowed by Spielberg, Scorsese and Cameron.
Available: In theory, yes.
Would he do it: After the disappointing results of "A Christmas Carol" and Disney shutting down their co-venture in motion capture, it may be time to return to the world of live action. And Middle-earth has more than its share of characters who could fit into the motion capture realm.

Gore Verbinski
Best known for: "Pirates of the Caribbean"
Why: He's been able to create a unique cinematic world with the "Pirates" films even if the scripts failed him at times. He's certainly talented.
Available: It appears so. Besides the animated "Rango," none of his projects in development are close to being greenlit.
Would he do it: Unclear. After spending years on the "Pirates" films does he want to dedicate two more shooting and editing two "Hobbit" features?

Andrew Adamson
Best known for: "Shrek," "The Chronicles of Naria: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"
Why: Extremely imaginative and talented New Zealander who has made a successful transition from animated blockbusters to live action blockbusters. And having made brought the first two "Narnia" books to the big screen he has an acute understanding of the detail that must be given to create an immersive, cinematic world.
Available: Having taken over two years off since "Prince Caspian," yes, he certainly is.
Would he do it: Considering it would allow him to live at home in New Zealand with his family and the respect and admiration he always heaped upon Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, it's hard to imagine him turning it down.

Sam Raimi
Best known for: "Spider-Man"
Why: He really wanted to direct it before del Toro got the gig.
Available: He's reportedly prepping "No Man's Land" after "Spider-Man 4" fell apart, but you have to imagine he'd quickly jump to the "Hobbit" if offered.
Would he do it: Uh, yeah, but after passing over him the first time, would Jackson actually hire him?


THE UNCONVENTIONAL REACHES

Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Best known for: "Amelie"
Why: Hands down one of the most inventive filmmakers ever.
Available: Seemingly.
Would he do it: His one experience with English language films, "Alien Resurrection" was hardly a happy one. Jackson would have to do a lot of convincing.

Joe Wright
Best know for: "Atonement"
Why: Incredibly talented filmmaker with a keen and unique visual sense.
Available: After he finishes shooting and editing the thriller "Hanna" (it's currently in production), yes.
Would he do it: Wright is a pretty strange guy for someone whose made his name in period pieces such as "Pride and Prejudice" and "Atonement." Your guess is as good as anyone else, but he'd be an unconventional, but exciting choice.

Danny Boyle
Best known for: "Slumdog Millionaire," "28 Days Later"
Why: Like Lee, he's been able to jump from different film genres while still keeping his unique perspective on the world. And simply, the man has an eye and a way with actors.
Available: He's in post-production on the thriller "127 days" which should release this November, but after that it appears so.
Would he do it: Boyle has admitted he's not a fan of the lack of freedom massive studio budgets entail, but with a few Oscars in his hands, he might feel it's time.

Timur Bekmambetov
Best known for: "Wanted"
Why: Groundbreaking visual filmmaker who continues to surprise.
Available: Probably not. He's supposed to direct an adaptation of "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," "The Last Witch Hunter" and a somewhat delayed "Wanted" sequel for three different studios. That's a lot of gigs to push back for two years.
Would he do it: Sadly, it probably doesn't matter, the man may just be booked.

Ang Lee
Best known for: "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,""Brokeback Mountain," "Hulk"
Why: The Oscar winner has shown an uncanny ability to succeed at multiple genres throughout his career.
Available: Unclear. Lee's next film, "The Life of Pi," is rumored to be on hold over budget concerns.
Would he do it: Another ego question. Would Lee be able to collaborate with Jackson? Unless he has creative freedom, it might not be worth it to him.

Neill Blomkamp
Best known for: "District 9"
Why: Protege of Jackson's who made a spectacular and critically acclaimed debut with "District 9."
Available: Supposedly prepping a secret project for film financier Media Rights Capital. If so, that's a "no."
Would he do it: Even with his friendship with Jackson, very unclear.

Paul Greengrass
Best known for: "The Bourne Supremacy"
Why: He's no stranger to genre having almost directed "Watchmen" and after "Green Zone" he needs a hit and to show he can do something other than his increasingly repetitive hand held aesthetic.
Available: It depends how quickly he can shoot and edit Universal's drama "They Marched Into Sunlight."
Would he do it: Unclear, but his agent will certainly want him to pitch it.


ONLY TO AVOID BRETT RATNER OR McG

Francis Lawrence
Best known for: "Constantine," "I Am Legend"
Why: Criticisms over script choices aside for both his big screen efforts, the man has vision. Plus, he did stellar work on the underappreciated NBC series "Kings."
Available: Not at the moment. He's currently filming the drama "Water for Elephants" for 20th Century Fox.
Would he do it: Unclear.

Bryan Singer
Best known for "X2," "The Usual Suspects"
Why: He's had his share of success with genre franchise and publicly stated his preference for films with multiple character storylines.
Available: Since "Jack the Giant Killer" is on hold for casting and script reasons, he sort of is.
Would he do it: Are you kidding? Singer has attached himself to more genre projects than any other studio director in town. Whether Jackson wants to deal with the "reformed" infant terrible is another matter.

Neil Marshall
Best known for: "The Descent"
Why: On a strikingly similar career path to Jackson's before he was able to get "The Lord of the Rings" off the ground. Deja vu?
Available: Seemingly.
Would he do it: Would be career suicide to turn it down.

-Who would you pick?