Directors aren't always hired based solely on what specific things they've done before. What they've worked on is generally not as important to the people hiring them as how they've worked on it -- how good a job they've done at getting the work done on time and within the budget, acting professionally on set and in meetings, getting along well with their coworkers, all sorts of behind-the-scenes things aside from what the audience sees on the screen. Sometimes it's also about networking -- who you know, who you trust, who you've been wanting to work with, who goes to the same gym or enrolls their kids in the same day care as you, etc. That's why film or TV creators can often still get work after a big flop -- because they aren't assessed based on a single gig, but rather on their whole career record. Publicity and popularity can be a factor, but it's not the only factor.
