Credit: Inside the MagicAfter the tremendous success of Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), it’s hard to tell what Marvel Studios will do next. That doesn’t mean there aren’t a few good ideas floating around.
Shawn Levy might be the talk of the town as the director celebrates his latest triumph, but he’s not the only name on Marvel’s payroll. As Matt Shakman prepares the Fantastic Four for their first steps, another big name might soon enter the ring.
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A series as big as the MCU has had a whole host of directorial talent bringing these iconic stories to life. From John Favreau and Kenneth Branagh to James Gunn and Taika Waititi, these visionaries have done a marvelous job in bringing our favorite heroes and villains from the comic book panels to the silver screen, but fans want to see a veteran of the superhero genre make a triumphant arrival.
Brad Bird Becomes Fan Pick for Marvel Studios
If you don’t know his name, you’ve definitely seen his work. Brad Bird is a renowned American animator, writer, director, and producer, best known for his work on various films for Disney and Pixar. His career has spanned decades and includes contributions to classic animated series like The Simpsons and Animaniacs, granting him the skills and talent to conduct a multitude of genres.
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The man is considered a master at his craft, and his work on The Incredibles (2004), Tomorrowland (2015), and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011) more than qualifies him for the MCU. A recent post on Marvel Studios’ subreddit had dozens of other fans sharing the same sentiment.
Which Marvel movie would you think Brad Bird would be a great choice for?
byu/New_Faithlessness980 inmarvelstudios
u/New_Faithlessness980 posed the question of what Marvel film Brad Bird would be the best choice for. In the response, the user shared the following reply:
“In my eyes, EASILY Fantastic Four. I can imagine be retro-Incredibles/Tomorrowland style Space Age retro futuristic 60s sci-fi adventure with a team of explorers/superheroes that are a family at its core.”
Although the new Fantastic Four film already has its director, that doesn’t mean Bird should be kept off the table. In fact, there are many more fans who believe Marvel should keep him in mind when adapting any future projects. After all, it’s a big Multiverse.
Who’s Next?
Many fans second the motion to have Bird involved in a Fantastic Four project, citing The Incredibles series as evidence that he knows how to handle the formula to the greatest extent. However, that’s not saying the prolific director can’t start fresh and take a new character in an original direction.
Down in the comments, u/jonathanquirk suggests Bird try his hand at a Squirrel Girl film when they write,
“I think of his movies as bittersweet; high action mixed with incredible (pun intended) character moments. So, I’m gonna go for Squirrel Girl. Battling (and supposedly defeating) supervillains with armies of squirrels while battling her own insecurities and her own fears, finding better ways to deal with baddies than just a huge third-act CGI slug-fest.”
Further down, u/HeroKuma says that he should adapt a new team of supers after his stint with Pixar’s famous superhero family. The user shares,
“Squadron Supreme or a Hyperion movie based off Mark Gruenwald’s work. Bird can handle comicbooky movies with humor and heart like ‘Incredibles’ and ‘The Iron Giant.’ Would be interesting to see him tackle a more darker story.”
However, u/JerseyKlahn makes perhaps the most obvious suggestion when they mention Kurt Busiek’s Marvels, a graphic novel that shows some of the best heroes of Marvel Comics seen from a street-level perspective. The user writes,
“I’d love to see his take on a project like MARVELS – now that we’ve spent ~20 years with the heroes, give us a grounded, street level project showing the impact of all of these super powered beings on the regular people in the MCU. I think he’d be able to land that with a ton of heart.”
The rest of the page is filled with multiple other users who suggest classic Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Captain America, the Silver Surfer, and the X-Men, and many even suggest he needs to swap formats from film to a Disney+ series, allowing him more material to play with. One thing that can be said for certain is that Brad Bird has a massive support network in the Marvel community.
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Brad Bird’s proven ability to craft visually stunning and emotionally resonant stories, combined with his experience in both animation and live-action, makes him a prime candidate to direct an MCU film. His unique blend of humor, action, and heart would be a valuable asset to the franchise, and it might just be a matter of time before he gets a chance.
What Marvel comic or character would you like to see Bird adapt? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!