5) Jennifer Kent – Animal Man
A movie about a guy called Animal Man doesn’t sound like it would be particularly scary. If anything, an Animal Man film could potentially be the cutest thing ever made, assuming bunnies are involved in some capacity. However, Animal Man’s comic was relaunched in 2011 with a horror slant that became one of DC’s most popular books in years, so any potential adaptations would likely veer more in this direction.
With the ability to break the fourth wall and a power set that can take on the capabilities of any creature, Animal Man is a unique candidate to portray on the big screen. Recent story arcs have included everything from undead monsters to disturbing moments of pure body horror, so a director well versed in the genre would be vital to any Animal Man adaptation.
In terms of horror movies, 2014 was the year of The Babadook. Jennifer Kent showed huge promise with her debut feature, combining realistic family dynamics and horrifying visuals with an expert eye for building tension. Imagine what this woman could do with a fascinating character like Animal Man on a bigger budget.
The most interesting superhero films of recent years have been the ones bold enough to combine superheroics with other styles in order to keep the genre fresh. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is quintessentially a conspiracy thriller and Ant-Man is more of a heist movie than anything else, so DC would do well to take inspiration here and produce a superhero/horror hybrid starring Animal Man.