Recently we found out that Frank Darabont was on the shortlist of potential directors for Snow White and the Huntsman 2, the follow-up to 2012’s re-imagining of the fairy tale that starred Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlize Theron, and was directed by Rupert Sanders.

The news that Darabont was a candidate seemed odd. Why would the director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, and the TV series creator of AMC’s The Walking Dead, be interested in making not only a sequel to a movie he wasn’t involved in, but a sequel to a movie that also received mediocre critical response (48% on Rotten Tomatoes, 6.2/10 on IMDB)?

But it appears that the interest is real and something about the project has appealed to Darabont, as it is now being reported that he’s officially in talks to direct Snow White and the Huntsman 2.

Talks are early at the moment and no formal offer has been made to Darabont by Universal Pictures yet, but word is that Universal and producer Joe Roth dig Darabont’s vision for the movie, putting him at the top of the list over other candidates such as Warrior director Gavin O’Connor and Mama director Andy Muschietti.

Hemsworth will reprise his role as the Huntsman, who the sequel will likely focus on. Stewart isn’t expected to return to play Snow White, and if she does, it may be in a much smaller capacity, possibly even just a cameo. Theron is also said to be returning.

If everything plays out here, this is a sequel few people were excited about that suddenly has become a hell of a lot more interesting.

[Source: The Wrap]