You would have thought that directing Thor 2 would be one of the most sought after jobs in Hollywood, especially as Marvel is going after little known names for the job. However it appears the studio wants to keep absolute control, which is causing issues and has already seen both Brian Kirk and Patty Jenkins bail on the movie (the latter leaving just last week).
However with a November 2013 release date already set, they need to get a director on board pretty soon. THR reports that Marvel is eyeing TV directors Alan Taylor and Daniel Minahan for the Thor 2 job, and that they're also looking to bring on a new writer for the project.
Both directors have feature films under their belts, Alan Taylor with Palookaville and Daniel Minahan with Series 7: The Contenders, but both are primarily known for their TV work. Alan Taylor has directed episodes of Mad Men, Nurse Jackie, and Boardwalk Empire, while Daniel Minahan has directed for True Blood, The Good Wife, and Grey's Anatomy. They have both directed episodes of the HBO series Game of Thrones, a show Marvel seems to be seeing as a template for Thor 2, as Brian Kirk also worked on that series.
There's no info on who is the frontrunner, but expect to hear someone has been hired soon.