James Gunn, director of Slither, Super, and the writer behind the Dawn of the Dead remake, is reportedly in talks to direct Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that Gunn is Marvel’s frontrunner to helm the project due to his “ability to mix comedy elements with action and horror.” The article notes he shares this ability with someone else who has made a splash with the studio, Joss Whedon. The report goes on:

The studio is said not to have ruled out others in the running — Peyton Reed (Bring It On, Yes Man) and Half Nelson helming team Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden were in the mix, according to sources — in case talks with Gunn’s reps do not lead to a deal.

This would certainly be Gunn’s first major directorial gig, having only previously helmed the 2006 horror flick Slither, and the low-budget Super starring Rainn Wilson (The Office). As a writer, Gunn is known for the Dawn of the Dead remake as well as the live-action Scooby Doo movie.

Just this past week, a logline for the film made its rounds describing Guardians of the Galaxy as the story of “a U.S. pilot who ends up in space in the middle of a universal conflict and goes on the run with futuristic ex-cons who have something everyone wants.”

What do you think of Gunn? Do you want to see him helm Guardians of the Galaxy?