PREDATOR: BADLANDS Director Dan Trachtenberg Reportedly in Talks to Write and Direct a Marvel Movie
Marvel Studios might be bringing some Predator blood into the MCU, and this could be a damn good move. Dan Trachtenberg, the filmmaker who helped breathe new life into the Predator franchise, is reportedly in talks to write and direct an upcoming Marvel movie.
According to a report from The Cosmic Circus, Kevin Feige is looking to bring Trachtenberg into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the studio begins planning its future beyond Avengers: Secret Wars.
The report says the project would be a theatrical feature rather than a Disney+ series or Special Presentation. It also offers one interesting detail about what Marvel has in mind: "the project would focus on a single character rather than an upcoming ensemble movie."
Marvel has plenty of characters waiting for their shot at the big screen, and Trachtenberg could be a great fit for several of them. There's Nova, the cosmic superhero project being written by Michael Waldron, which could give Trachtenberg an opportunity to play around in Marvel's sci-fi universe.
There's also Blade, a movie that has spent years struggling to get off the ground. Then there's Wolverine, which could be a good match for a director who knows how to deliver savage action and compelling character stories.
Trachtenberg already has a solid working relationship with Disney through 20th Century Studios, having directed Prey, Predator: Killer of Killers, and Predator: Badlands. His other credits include 10 Cloverfield Lane, The Boys, and Black Mirror. He's also developing a new version of Sleeping Beauty for Disney.
The filmmaker has proven he knows how to take established franchises and do something interesting with them instead of simply recycling what audiences have already seen. That's a skill Marvel could certainly use.
Interestingly, Trachtenberg has actually crossed paths with Marvel Studios before. He previously revealed that he met with Feige about directing Guardians of the Galaxy before James Gunn landed the job.
"I like so many filmmakers of my generation and younger, who have made a movie that strikes a chord, have definitely met. I will say that I met a producer named Jeremy Latcham at [Marvel Studios] and [Kevin Feige], because of Jeremy, to meet for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' before James Gunn, based on my short film 'Portal.'"
He continued, "They were like, 'That’s creative, let’s find someone interesting and cool.' I did not get the job, obviously, and rightfully so, but still so, so awesome."
Well, maybe Marvel is finally ready to give him the keys to one of its characters. With Avengers: Secret Wars expected to close out the Multiverse Saga, Marvel has an opportunity to shake things up as it moves toward its next era, potentially centered on mutants and the X-Men.
The studio doesn't need another assembly-line superhero movie. It needs filmmakers with their own ideas who aren't afraid to get a little crazy, take some chances, and give audiences something they haven't seen a dozen times already.
Trachtenberg has already shown what he can do with the Predator franchise, and giving him a character-driven Marvel movie could lead to something pretty badass.
Of course, nothing is official yet, and we'll have to wait to see whether these talks lead anywhere. But if Marvel really is looking to bring Trachtenberg aboard, I'm all for it.