It’s been a while now since Kevin Feige took to the stage of the D23 Expo in 2019 and told fans all over the world what they’d been clamoring to hear: not only was the MCU coming to Disney+, some of the comics’ biggest names would be getting their own series.
Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, even Kate Bishop – many beloved characters would finally make their MCU debut, in the form of mini-series exclusively available on Disney’s flagship streaming service. It seemed that these shows were just around the corner… and then the coronavirus hit, and TV production around the world ground to a halt.
Nevertheless, Marvel have kept devotees satiated by slowly drip-feeding cast and crew announcements for their upcoming shows, reminding audiences that they were still in the works. Indeed, with the recent announcement that Kat Coiro had been hired as the She-Hulk series director, most of their Disney+ series have found their directors.
So, who is directing what? What experience do they have? And what are they bringing to the MCU?
A veritable veteran of the industry, Kari Skogland has made a name for herself by directing episodes of some of the most beloved TV shows out there: Boardwalk Empire, Vikings, and House of Cards. Skogland is also experienced at directing Marvel shows as well, having directed an episode of Netflix’s The Punisher. When it comes to directing non-powered superhero action, she is very much a steady hand.
For The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which has been described as a political thriller, Skogland has two bits of handy experience: directing multiple episodes of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and her 2008 film Fifty Dead Men Walking, which explores life in the IRA. Both of these pieces present individuals standing up to a corrupt and violent government regime, whether it be the fictional Gilead or the all-too-real British occupation of Northern Ireland. With Wyatt Russell cast as John Walker (‘US Agent’), a corrupt successor to Captain America created by the U.S. government, it will be interesting to see if Skogland brings shadings of the evil-government-versus-moral-individual theme into the Marvel show.
Like Skogland, Matt Shakman is seen as a very steady hand in the TV industry: having had stints at fan-favorite series like Succession, Game of Thrones, and even The Boys. Shakman is a dependable director who Marvel can rely on for Wandavision.
Interestingly, the biggest feather in Shakman’s cap in directing Wandavision is less his directing experience, and more his acting experience: when he was a child, he starred in the 1988 sitcom, Just the Ten on Us, which was a typical, schmaltzy 80s family comedy. With the trailer for Wandavision implying that the series will reference and pastiche the clichés of sitcoms of this period, Shakman looks to be uniquely situated to understand that environment.
Unlike the previous two directors, Herron is less of a stalwart force in the industry, having only a few credits under her belt. Nevertheless, what she has produced so far has been acclaimed, earning Herron a place as one of Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’.
Her biggest projects so far? Netflix favorites Sex Education and Daybreak, both series that take the high school-comedy clichés and flip them on their head, offering genre-busting presentations of ‘loners’. With Tom Hiddleston’s Loki often being framed as a social outsider, having Herron’s experience of directing high school dramas may be very helpful. Indeed, as the show’s writer has previously said the show will answer the question, “could Loki ever make a friend?” With Herron at the helm, this question is likely to be front-and-center.
What If…? breaks the mold of the Disney+ MCU series so far by a) being the only animated series b) not being canon, and c) being a reflective look at the MCU’s past, reimagining some of its key scenes in new fresh ways. It’s very helpful, then, that Bryan Andrews has been there for so much of it.
Indeed, despite only having limited explicit directing experience (seemingly only for the cult classic, Jackie Chan Adventures), Andrews has worked as a storyboard artist on many of the MCU’s biggest films, including The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2, and Doctor Strange. With having such an intimate knowledge of the MCU’s visuals, Andrews will be very well-placed to reference and reflect the MCU’s history.
So far, the Hawkeye miniseries is the only one to feature two sets of directors, each taking a block of episodes each. First up is Bert & Bertie, a female writing/directing team with a limited but impressive filmography. More known for their weird horror shorts Worm and Phobias than their TV work (although they have had episodes at acclaimed shows like Kidding and The Great), it’s interesting to see how the pair will approach a more grounded character like Hawkeye. However, the duo have been previously brought in to spice up and rethink projects like Amazon’s Eurydice and Troop Zero, so it’s plausible that their flair will add some flavor to one of the MCU’s more basic heroes.
Conversely, also working on the series is Rhys Thomas – a power-player in the world of variety comedy. Having directed for Saturday Night Live, Documentary Now! and even John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch, Thomas is well-regarded as being one of the best variety comedy directors currently in the game. With his inclusion, perhaps Hawkeye will be funnier than initially expected, with the character taking on a more comedic edge.
The last of the announced directors is Kat Coiro for She-Hulk, the female cousin of Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner. Slated to direct the “first episode and several others” as well as also “executive produce” the series, Coiro has a prodigious history in contemporary sitcoms. Featuring stints at Brooklyn 99, Modern Family, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Dead to Me, and Shameless, Coiro has an extensive history in finding comedy in everyday places. Considering the character of She-Hulk is a lawyer in the comics, who has to balance her powers with her demanding job, Coiro may be the perfect pick to help build up this dramatic (and possibly hilarious) juxtaposition.
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