No Favreau For Avengers

We’ve talked about it, hell he’s talked about it himself, and now we have confirmation – Jon Favreau will not be directing the Avengers movie.

In an interview with MTV, the Iron Man director said:

“They’ll have to [find a different director], because I’m not going to be available.”

And with that, the internet collectively sighed with disappointment. But Favreau isn’t totally out of the picture as he made an effort to ease our fresh wound:

“It’s something I’m being the executive producer on, so I’ll definitely have input and a say.”

So, Marvel fans, take that for what it’s worth. With Favreau out of the question for directing the movie that will bring together the new wave of Marvel films franchises, let the speculation begin. Favreau was so wishfully thought upon as director of the Avengers, mostly because of his success with Iron Man; not only was it a kick-ass stand-alone film, but we got the sense that he truly understood the characters and could deliver.

On making the numerous elements mesh in an Avengers film, Favreau says this:

“It’s going to be hard, because I was so involved in creating the world of Iron Man and Iron Man is very much a tech-based hero, and then with ‘Avengers’ you’re going to be introducing some supernatural aspects because of Thor. How you mix the two of those works very well in the comic books, but it’s going to take a lot of thoughtfulness to make that all work and not blow the reality that we’ve created.”

So who do you think can fill the shoes needed to pull off such a film? Favreau’s right in that it is an entirely delicate procedure, working with four major properties (Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and Hulk) at the same time in one 120 minute film. Do you bring someone new in, who hasn’t worked on one of the elements before? Or should Louis Leterrier (Incredible Hulk), Kenneth Branagh (Thor) or Joe Johnston (Captain America) get a shot at the big one?

And while we do know that the Hulk will be appearing in The Avengers (though Edward Norton is not confirmed to return as Bruce Banner), Favreau also  put to rest rumors of a certain green-skinned-behemoth making a cameo in the upcoming Iron Man 2: it ain’t happening. I kind of figured that much.

So what say you, who do you think would be a great director for the Avengers movie?