MGM has solidified its replacement for director Joe Carnahan (The Grey) on its remake of the 1974 Charles Bronson film Death Wish.  Carnahan had been developing the project for over a year before he dropped out last month when he and MGM didn’t see eye-to-eye on who should play the film’s protagonist, a liberal architect who sets out for vengeance after his wife and daughter are attacked.  The studio wanted Bruce Willis for the role, but Carnahan was keen on going a different way.

Now Variety reports that director Gerardo Naranjo, who most recently helmed the Spanish-language thriller Miss Bala, is in talks to step in.  Carnahan wrote the script for Death Wish alongside John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris, and the report notes that Brad Pitt and Will Smith were previously approached to star in addition to Willis.  Naranjo is also attached to direct the romantic drama The Mountain Between Us at Fox, which is hoping to land a big star as its lead as well.