Kiwi director Niki Caro sis in on Marvel's shortlist to helm Captain Marvel, the comic book franchise's first woman-lead film.

It will be the first women-led feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Kiwi director Niki Caro could be at the helm.

That's if a "shortlist" of directors for Captain Marvel leaked by The Hollywood Reporter is anything to go by.

Marvel are determined that the film - due out in 2018 and starring Oscar winner Brie Larson as the Marvel U's most powerful superhero - should have a woman at the helm.

Marvel.com FEMALE SUPERHERO: The cover of Captain Marvel #1. Described as Earth's mightiest hero in the Marvel Universe, Carol Danvers is getting her own film in 2018.

Top of the list is our own Niki Caro. She joins Homeland and Mad Men's Lesli Glatter and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World's Lorene Scafaria on the most coveted list in Tinseltown.

READ MORE:

* Brie Larson will be Captain Marvel

* Marvel Cinema Universe: Where to next after Captain America: Civil War

* Sundance: How Marvel found its new Thor director, Taika Waititi

* Captain America: The films Marvel wants you to forget

Best Actress Oscar winner Brie Larson will play Captain Marvel in the 2018 film.

Most famous for her universally-adored adaptation of Whale Rider, Caro is no stranger to Hollywood and Hollywood stars.

She recently directed Oscar-nominated actor Jessica Chastain and Marvel alum Daniel Bruhl in The Zookeepers Wife (due out in 2017)

Previously, she worked with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron, Marvel regular Jeremy Renner and honorary Kiwi Sean Bean in North Country (2007).

Marvel.com Captain Marvel and her intergalactic friends.

Captain Marvel would be Caro's ninth film.

If Caro does get the job, she'll be the second Kiwi director to join the box-office dominating Marvel Family.

Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople director Taika Waititi is in Australia directing Thor: Ragnarok, the third Thor film in August and September.