20th Century Fox has narrowed the field of directors up for THE WOLVERINE to eight, reports Variety. The names include Jose Padilha (ELITE SQUAD), Doug Liman (MR. AND MRS. SMITH), Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY), Mark Romanek (NEVER LET ME GO), Justin Lin (FAST FIVE), Gavin O'Connor (PRIDE AND GLORY), James Mangold (3:10 TO YUMA) and commercials director Gary Shore.

Hugh Jackman will star. Christopher McQuarrie wrote the script, which places Wolverine in Japan. Darren Aronofsky had planned to direct, but dropped out over the extensive overseas schedule.