Well, how about this massive splash of news on your Friday afternoon? In 1983, Twilight Zone: The Movie was released and featured segments directed by the powerhouse of Steven Spielberg, John Landis, Joe Dante and George Miller. Warner Bros. has been developing a new Twilight Zone film for some time now and unlike that version, this is said to have “a single storyline and one director” with multiple themes from the original Rod Sterling TV show. Variety gives us our first hint at who that director may be.

The shortlist is just as high-class as the 80s version, with Christopher Nolan topping the list. Joining the director is Michael Bay, Alfonso Cuaron and Rupert Wyatt, with David Yates recently dropping out of discussions. Even though Nolan is the frontrunner, the trade says he may not take it, considering the crossover with Inception and dealing with similar themes.

As he is also deep into shooting The Dark Knight Rises and likely doesn’t decide on his next project until after the fact, I doubt we’ll hear anything about Nolan’s involvement anytime soon. Bay is said to have liked the script, but wants to being production on his smaller budget flick Pain and Gain. Cuaron is currently in post-production on my most anticipated film of 2012, his sci-fi epic Gravity, and would have same free time after its December 2012 bow, since he has nothing else lined up. There is no word on Wyatt, but he also has yet to set his next project.

As we previously known, DiCaprio’s Appian Way is producing and Rand Ravich and Jason Rothenberg have script duties. Nolan’s sensibilities seem the most intact with a feature Twilight Zone film, but I’m just glad someone like Tim Burton isn’t being considered since he seems like a painfully obvious choice for this material. It seems like a good stepping stone for Wyatt as well, instead of going directly to a Rise of the Planet of the Apes. I’d always look forward to a film from Cuaron, and his darker tones would be fitting for something like this, but I’d rather seem him take on an original project. As for now, we play the waiting game as WB decides on a high-profile director.

Who would you want to see helm a new Twilight Zone film?