Like critically acclaimed Russian Doll? People place too much credence on previous work. What was Peter Jackson's fantasy experience before LOTR? What was the Russo brothers scifi-superhero experience before they were given Winter Solider?
Can I answer this one please
Peter Jackson went through an absolute nightmare trying to secure the funding for the series, in the end he went with a clear and compelling vision on how he was going to do it, he had some credibility with films like Heavenly Creatures which allowed him to pitch the project to some investors.
He also had significant support from others, namely his wife Fran Walsh, and another screen writer, Philippa Boyens who helped write a detailed and appealing script to showcase the potential of the series. He then took extensive pre-production work, storyboards, concept art to numerous productions studios, many rejected it, Miramax wanted to gut it down to 2 films, but eventually New Line Cinema went for it and saw the potential of a trilogy series.
As for the Russo brothers, they had some credibility with TV, but it was more who they knew and it just so happened that the president of Marvel at the time liked their innovative and dynamic directing style in the TV shows they made and gave them the opportunity.
Giving the chance for the Russo brothers to make some test footage and that basically sealed the deal for them.
In both situations, they proved to the studios that they could do a good job of it. Something I bet Leslye Headland didn't do, certainly not to the standard P.J and the Russo lot did. Probably cheaper to have just said yes to the $180 million for her, than to say no your **** and go through a legal nightmare cos she's a women and gay.
