Mira Nair for OotP director?

[Lolua]

A rumor has been circulating this week from Brazilian film site Cinema em Cena that Indian-born director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding, the recent Vanity Fair) would possibly be directing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. While the Brazilian story was conjectural at best, The Times of India now has quotes from Mira Nair talking about the possibility:

"I'm getting offers to direct Harry Potter: The Order Of The Phoenix. I read it over the weekend. I'm still deciding... I'm not letting all this go to my head. I'm grounded. I practise detachment, it helps me keep my balance." I'm a Dilliwalli, only an asana gets me on my head! My son Zoharan's excited. I've seen all the Harry Potter movies with him."

Since the Times article appeared, SciFi Wire, Godric's Hollow, and other sites have picked up the story. It's unclear whether the "it" she read over the weekend was the book or a script. I could have sworn that interview with Steve Kloves from back in June said he hadn't started on the OotP script yet.

We should probably watch HPANA and other Potter news outlets to see whether Mira Nair takes the job or not.

Cinema em Cena
www.cinema.art.br/not_cinenews_filme.asp?cod=3809

The Times of India
timesofindia.indiatimes.com//articleshow/831865.cms

HPANA
www.hpana.com/news.18277.html

[Lolua]

There's still no word on whether Mira Nair has accepted or declined the offer to direct OotP.

However... a fan report written by a French teenager for Ain't It Cool News (which isn't even as reliable as ComingSoon.net), says the following about Jean-Pierre Jeunet, director of the recent A Very Long Engagement (and the not-so-recent Amèlie and Alien: Resurrection):

To tell everything, Mr Jeunet was here for the screening, with the actors: Audrey Tautou, Dominique Pinon and Chantal Neuwirth. They debated about half an hour with some lucky members of the audience. Jeunet told us he had today to met Warner's officals to talk about "a little boy who learns magic and flies on a broom." But of course, he said he wasn't interested in it, and had no idea about his next movie. But I'm sure it'll {be} great!

Source: www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=18652

{Translated from Franglais Edited for readability by moi.}

As you can see, the fan doesn't seem to think Jeunet is particularly interested in the project. So perhaps the search continues...