Marvel Officially Hires Director Alan Taylor For Thor Sequel!

Marvel Studios has finally chosen a new director for Thor 2. Deadline reports Marvel has indeed picked television director Alan Taylor to replace Patty Jenkins (Monster). While I was shocked Jenkins exited the project I think hiring Taylor is a solid move by the studio. Alan has been directing episodes on some of the best shows ever airing on television. Those credits include Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire, Sopranos, Oz, Mad Men, Rome, West Wing and Deadwood. He's proven to be able to handle large casts which will be needed with the cast of Asgardians more than doubling in the next film. The Thor sequel will be released on November 15th 2013 with production expected to start in fall 2012.

Marvel has left the door open for Patty to perhaps direct another one of their budding franchises in the future. I'm hoping that Marvel ends up using Jenkins for projects like Doctor Strange, Black Panther or even Iron Fist. Since she seems more like the type of director to start a superhero franchise with her own vision, not just to continue another one.

Matt Damon & Ben Affleck Making A Whitey Bulger Bio-Pic

Warner Bros. is really coming out with some seriously interesting projects in the last couple of months. This new one that ThePlaylist (via GQ) mentions sounds like something that could have Oscar contender written all over it. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are re-teaming for a bio-pic of Boston mobster Whitey Bulgar who was the head of the notorious Winter Hill gang. While there are a number of other Bulger films in development Damon hopes their project will scare off the other guys. The big weight behind their version is that Terence Winter the writer of HBO's Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire will be handling the script with Ben Affleck directing. Not to mention a major studio is backing them.

Damon and Affleck would star in the film but it's unknown if it will be a straight up period piece similar to Goodfellas. Bulger was a major influence on Jack Nicholson's character Frank Costello in Martin Scorsese's The Departed. I wouldn't be shocked to see Martin Scorsese attached as a producer down the line along with familiar faces in supporting roles. I'm beyond exicted to see another crime drama directed by Affleck and having it written by Winter is a giant bonus. I'm a massive fan of Ben as a director and I really wish he sticks to this sort of genre for at least a couple more films. He's been offered more commerical films like Man of Steel and Stephen King's The Stand but I'd prefer he'd stick to these type of movies.

If I had to come up with one actor that needs to be included in this film it's Alec Baldwin. Alec played such an amazing gangster in The Cooler and a ruthless salesman in Glenngary Glen Ross. It would be a shame for him to retire before going all out that a film like this could allow him to do. I felt he was short changed in The Departed since he plays such great villains.