What’s Next For Daniel Destin Cretton in the MCU?
With the success of projects such as Shang-Chi, Wonder Man, and, most recently, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Daniel Craig Cretton has quickly cemented his status as a fan-favorite MCU director. These projects have proven Cretton excels at balancing slower, character-driven drama with fast-paced, expertly choreographed action. Fans cannot wait to discover what’s next in store for the acclaimed filmmaker, and I have some recommendations of my own.
PICK ONE: HULK
Considering Cretton recently revealed Mark Ruffalo’s interest in a Hulk solo film, this pick might be the most realistic of the three. Personally, I have been indifferent at best towards the direction Hulk’s character was taken post-Ragnarok. Thankfully, it seems that my issues with the portrayal are being rectified with Brand New Day. Cretton has referenced Ang Lee’s Hulk and The Incredible Hulk 2008 as inspirations for his version of the “jolly green giant”. Although these movies were far from perfect, they still did a far superior job showing Hulk to be the menacing and unpredictable hero he was designed to be.
A hypothetical solo Hulk film could work if it maintains this serious tone and serves as a psychological study of the character. There is plenty of material to focus on Bruce and what exactly causes his anger in the first place. Both previous solo Hulk movies did attempt to analyze this concept, even if they led to mixed results at best. That is why the plot structure can be improved upon by a director as consistent as Cretton.
Of course, a film like this shouldn’t shy away from a fair share of savage and vicious fight scenes. Instead of being simple comic relief, Hulk should be able to show off his fighting skills, especially as he grows angrier. There are ways to portray this character without it feeling one-note, and I believe Cretton is a director that understands this.
PICK TWO: WOLVERINE
With the X-Men soon making their arrival in the MCU, Wolverine will likely be one of the first mutants to receive his own project. He is arguably the most iconic and recognizable character from the team, and deserves a talented director to establish this in the MCU. This is why I believe Cretton is a perfect choice.
Although Hugh Jackman is synonymous with Logan, I would not be surprised if Cretton cast a younger actor for his take on the character. Wolverine is a character the MCU will likely want to use for years to come. For that reason, it makes sense to introduce a younger Logan rather than relying on Jackman’s portrayal indefinitely. Since the MCU seems to be establishing different mutants in other projects, maybe this new Logan would appear in the hypothetical Hulk movie.
A good Wolverine film also needs brutal and satisfying fight scenes, which Cretton can deliver in spades. The director is especially talented at creating scenes with fast-paced and fluid combat, combined with visually appealing setpieces (as seen in Shang-Chi and Brand New Day). While a Wolverine movie would certainly be more violent than the previous examples, I still think Cretton’s style would shine through.
PICK THREE: DAREDEVIL
While this pick might sound strange, it makes more sense when put into context. The writers of Daredevil: Born Again have already done a great job of continuing the Netflix series (especially after the well-rounded season 2). However, if Matt Murdock were ever to receive his own solo movie, I think Cretton would be perfect for directing duties.
Cretton has shown that he can expertly manage street-level characters with Brand New Day while maintaining his signature fight choreography. The original show already excelled at high-quality action scenes, so it would be a no-brainer to elevate them further with Cretton’s style.
Beyond action, Cretton has proven that he understands the importance of character-driven storytelling. The Netflixverse/MCU Matt constantly struggles to reconcile his morality with his life as a vigilante. This conflict requires just as many personal, emotional moments as exciting fight scenes. Based on his previous projects, this type of mature and grounded tone is perfect for the director.
Visually, Cretton’s directing style could also bring an exciting new cinematic edge to the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. Admittedly, the original Netflix run looked incredible for a streaming show of that era (and still holds up today!). While many see Born Again’s cinematography as a step back, it has begun to slowly improve with Season 2.
Regardless, a Daredevil theatrical film (especially one helmed by Cretton) would likely expand upon everything that made the Netflix show great. Ideally, it would maintain the grounded feel of the original show while becoming more ambitious in scale. Take, for instance, the elaborate Hand fight scene from Brand New Day. The level of choreography and visual scale in these scenes is something the original Daredevil team could not match for the time.
CONCLUSION
Daniel Destin Cretton has quickly become one of Marvel Studios’ most dependable filmmakers. His ability to balance compelling character work with spectacular action has united critics and audiences alike. While fans eagerly wait to learn what MCU project Cretton will tackle after Brand New Day, all signs point to it being another standout project for the MCU.
What MCU project do YOU think Cretton should direct next? Let me know in the comments!
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