Eclipse director David Slade is one of the frontrunners to direct the sequel to Wolverine.

New York Magazine say Slade and Robert Schwentke are the two frontrunners to direct the 20th Century film. Aside from Eclipse, Slade also directed Hard Candy and 30 Days of Night while Schwentke's filmography includes Flightplan, The Time Traveller's Wife the and upcoming spy thriller Red also based on a comic book.

Wolverine star Hugh Jackman will reportedly meet both filmmakers next week before a final decision.

But a source quoted by the magazine's Vulture blog say that Slade is the preferred choice.

Wolverine 2 will be set in Japan and is penned by Christopher McQuarrie. The sequel begins with Hugh Jackman's character drinking at a bar in Japan where X-Men Origins: Wolverine ended.

Logan will have a forbidden romance with a Japanese woman who was promised to marry another man. This leads to a a clash between Logan's claws and the woman's father and brother who are samurais.

Recently, the Australian actor Hugh Jackman withdraw from Avon Man to focus on bulking up for the Wolverine sequel.