I had the same thought. I haven't seen The Station Agent, and while The Visitor wasn't really that great, I think that spoke more to his failings as a writer than as a director. I think having a director who is attuned to the rhythms of a smaller, more intimate story _could_ be a good idea, if it's the right director.

In any case, he'll probably have less influence than Ang Lee did over The Hulk, just because the nature of television gives much more influence to the showrunners. Benioff and Weiss will be running this particular show.