The drama on the set of Justin Lin quitting and being replaced by Louis Leterrier. However, other creatives taking over directing duties isn't always as in the public eye. While Redditors make some huge, and often hilarious, claims about what movies might have been ghost-directed by whom, there are no grounds other than rumors. However, other Redditors have made some interesting observations, and there are previous reports or sources that back up the claims.
Between a couple of Star Wars movies, a very under-appreciated comic book movie, and a western classic, these movies supposedly had ghost directors at the helm. Whether it's the Wachowski sisters, Steven Spielberg, or even Kurt Russell, Redditors believe these directors took over from the filmmakers whose names are officially attached to the projects.
Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith (2005)
At the beginning of the 1980s, The Empire Strikes Back. But the celebrated filmmaker never helmed a single film set in a galaxy far, far away, even though he'd be a great choice. However, Pugthomas notes that might not be the case and that fans have been left in the dark.
The Redditor speculates, "I heard rumors Lucas called on his good friend Spielberg to do some work on battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan on the volcanic planet is the most epic and well-shot sequence in the whole of the prequel trilogy.
Tombstone (1993)
Tombstone, was ghost-directed by the actor himself. The Redditor notes, "George P. Cosmatos & Kevin Jarre share directing credits on Tombstone, but, by all s, Kurt Russell was the one who really got the movie over the line."
The is not wrong, as, according to best movies improved by studio meddling, as the final result is an epic and suspenseful revenge tale, but it might not have turned out the way it did if Russell didn't step in.
Poltergeist (1982)
Revenge of the Sith isn't the only movie that Redditors believe Spielberg ghost-directed, as Poltergeist as being secretly helmed by the famed filmmaker. The Redditor posits, "Steven Spielberg supposedly ghost-directed the ghostly movie Poltergeist." The movie's official director is Tobe Hooper, but how much he really worked on the movie has long been speculated about.
According to the Indiana Jones director is the one who was really behind the camera. A former camera assistant explains, "Candidly… Steven Spielberg directed that movie. There’s no question." It hardly comes as a surprise, as the visual style of the movie looks a lot like what audiences have come to expect from Spielberg.
V For Vendetta (2005)
V for Vendetta." Given that the official director James McTeigue's filmography is full of B-movie-like releases such as Ninja Assassin and The Raven, V For Vendetta is very much a diamond in the rough.
The 2005 movie could very well have been ghost-directed by the Wachowski sisters. Not only that, but the Wachowskis also wrote the screenplay, and it's rare for the duo to not direct their own written work. According to best non-superhero comic book movies ever.
Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi (1983)
Revenge of the Sith isn't the only Star Wars movie that may have been ghost-directed to an extent, as Return of the Jedi being secretly directed by its creator too. The Redditor notes, "I’ve heard rumors that George Lucas did most of the directing on RoTJ, although Richard Marquand is credited."
According to Wired, Lucas did direct a lot of the movie, though it isn't clear how much, and it was because of Marquand's poor relationship with actors. But given how Lucas' introverted personality is well-documented and that he specifically chose not to direct The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi for specific reasons, he mustn't have been happy correcting Marquand's work. But Lucas could also have been worried, as the movies were entirely self-funded, and The Empire Strikes Back notoriously went over budget.
Dredd (2012)
Alex Garland started out in the movie industry writing sci-fi screenplays like Ex Machina. However, that was a sensational first film and it feels like the work of an already established director, and that might actually have been the case.
fans are still dying for Dredd 2.
Rambo: First Blood Part 2 (1985) And Cobra (1986)
Cobra, both of which credit George Cosmatos as the director." It'd hardly be surprising if that was true, as Stallone is just as good of a director as he is an actor, and Times of San Diego backs up the claim too.
Weirdly, Cosmatos is also credited for Tombstone, which was also ghost-directed by somebody else. Just as Alan Smithee is a codename that is used when directors want their name taken off a project, Geoge Cosmatos might be a codename for directors who took over from somebody else. Or maybe the director is hired knowing that an actor is allowed to overrule them at any time.
