Fox Narrows List to Eight Potential 'Wolverine' Directors

As a public service to fan-boys all across the Internet, we here at Yidio now present to you 20th Century Fox's short list of directors to succeed the exiting Oscar-winner Darren Aronofsky in directing the studio's next "X-Men" follow-up, 2012's "The Wolverine," starring once more Hugh Jackman as the titular clawed and ill-tempered mutant.

• Sure, few of these directors pack the prestige and credibility Aronofsky would've. But it's an interesting mixed bag, considering they've combined told tales of legendary Olympic hockey teams, beautiful people driving fast cars, murderous robots, rogue U.S. covert agents and country music legends.

- Brazilian Jose Padilha has gained looks for 2007's "Elite Squad" and 2010's "Elite Squad 2" but could achieve his most mainstream notoriety helming a developing remake of Paul Verhoven's cult action favorite "Robocop."

- Doug Liman's finished product helming "The Bourne Identity" shouldn't leave a doubt that fast-paced, hard-hitting hand-to-hand action is well within his wheelhouse. Working against him: also directed "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."

- If Antoine Fuqua brings his Academy Award-worthy "Training Day" boots to the set, he could paint Wolverine with all the grit and intensity any fan could ask.

- Sure, on paper, "Never Let Me Go" and the unsettling Robin Williams thriller "One Hour Photo" don't exactly paint Mark Romanek as a go-to comic book adapter. Then again, who would've immediately believed that "Swingers" alum Jon Favreau would be such a natural carrying the ball for two successful "Iron Man" movies, or that Shakespearean Kenneth Branagh could do so right bot "Thor?"

- "Fast Five" proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that newcome Justin Lin has action chops to spare. But where is he going to find the time? He's rumored to be committed to "Terminator 5" and hasn't said one way or another whether a "Fast Five" sequel will be in his immediate future or the distant one.

- On the flip side, Gavin O'Connor is best known for "Pride and Glory" and the true Olympic story "Miracle." Those might not scream first-choice director, but again . . . Kenneth Branagh? "Thor?" But damn, it worked.

- James Mangold led "Walk the Line" and the Western remake "3:10 to Yuma" straight to Academy Award nods, and "Yuma" certainly demonstrated that action, thrills and good storytelling aren't elements he considers mutually exclusive.

- Finally, there's Gary Shore. He's directed a lot of commercials. Well, and this: