British film director Guy Ritchie arrives for the European premiere of the film The Dark Knight Rises in London's Leicester Square. (AFP)
Also in the running are names like Martin Campbell, who has directed past Bond movies Casino Royale and Goldeneye, as well as top movie makers Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese.
Ritchie was last behind the camera for his sequel Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows which was released in 2011.