Who’s going to direct The Man of Steel? That's the billion-dollar question regarding the Christopher Nolan-produced Superman reboot. Just last week, Deadline reported that Nolan’s shortlist for directors had been narrowed down to five: Duncan Jones, Jonathon Liebesman, Matt Reeves, Tony Scott, and Zack Snyder.

Well, now we can add another name to the rumor mill: Darren Aronofsky. According to the Los Angeles Times, Christopher Nolan and his wife/producer Emma Thomas are interested in applying Aronofsky’s supremely unique vision to the David Goyer and Jonathon Nolan-penned screenplay. But isn’t Aronofsky already in talks to direct X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2, starring his friend and former colleague, Hugh Jackman?

In fact, Darren Aronofsky suspiciously refused to answer questions about whether or not he was up for the job of directing the Jackman vehicle and X-Men prequel/sequel. Specifically, when asked why he was meeting with Fox Co-Chairman Tom Rothman at the Toronto Film Festival, Aronofsky played coy and pretended like the whole thing never happened.

Check out the video for yourself:

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. […] Even though I've been attached to all these comic book [movies], I never really was a comic book kid growing up. […] I didn't really know who Wolverine was until I met Hugh Jackman and got to know it. […] Of course, I grew up with Batman and Superman and Spider-Man a little bit, but I'm not the biggest comic book fan, even though I've been attached to a lot of them. It would be fun to do one, [but] it's just finding the right situation, the right project.”

The only comic book property Darren Aronofsky was previously attached to was the Batman reboot—with a screenplay he co-wrote with Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City)—before Christopher Nolan got his hands on it and made Batman Begins. The phrase “I’ve been attached to all these comic book [movies],” certainly seems to indicate that he has been in talks to direct not only one or two comic book movies, but possibly even three—Batman, Wolverine 2, and Superman. Indeed, maybe Nolan feels bad about swiping Batman out from under Aronofsky? Maybe The Man of Steel is his way of apologizing?

Interestingly enough, Darren Aronofsky is the third director whose name has been associated with both Man of Steel and Wolverine 2 behind Matt Reeves (Let Me In) and Tony Scott (who’s currently attached to direct another comic book movie, an adaptation of the Mark Millar comic book, Nemesis).

And in related news, Ben Affleck, hot off directing and starring in the surprise heist movie hit, The Town, was also in talks to direct The Man of Steel as recently as last week, before removing himself from the running. Which begs the question—is there anyone left in Hollywood who hasn't been tapped to direct this movie?

If you were in Christopher Nolan's shoes, whom would you choose to direct The Man of Steel? Darren Aronofsky, one of the five directors on Deadline’s shortlist, or somebody else altogether? Frankly, I’d be more than happy with Aronofsky helming the project, but I’d also be interested in seeing what Duncan Jones (Moon) could do with it. Either way, it’s refreshing to see that Nolan and company aren’t limiting their choices to traditional blockbuster directors of the Michael Bay variety.

Darren Aronofsky’s latest film, the ballet psychodrama  Black Swan, is being touted as one of the filmmaker’s finest by those few lucky enough to have seen it. It recently showed at the Toronto International Film Festival and debuts to the general public on December 1st.

Meanwhile, The Man of Steel hits theaters in December 2012. A director announcement is surely imminent, so keep an eye out. Best to stay up to date with us on Twitter: @screenrant

Sources: Los Angeles Times, MTV, and The Hollywood Reporter