With Daniel Craig now officially on board to reprise his role as 007 and a November 2019 release date set, the search continues for a director to succeed Sam Mendes for the 25th instalment of the James Bond franchise.
It was reported back in July that three candidates top Eon’s list in Yann Demange (’71), David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) and Denis Villeneuve (Arrival), with Daniel Craig said to be favouring Villeneuve, who is very hot property coming off his latest critical hit with Blade Runner 2049.
Well, it seems that Craig may indeed get his wish, as Villeneuve has expressed his interest in the gig during an interview with Screen Rant, where he stated: “I cannot talk about that. But let’s say that for me to do a Bond movie would be a deep, deep pleasure.”
Presumably, his comments that he “cannot talk about that” means he has been talking about it with someone…
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Meanwhile, chatting to Cinema Blend, GoldenEye and Casino Royale helmer Martin Campbell has also revealed that he could perhaps be tempting to get back into the Bond director’s chair on Daniel Craig’s swansong, stating that:
“I don’t know. I might be, so never say never. I didn’t after Goldeneye. I don’t know if it was sort of arrogance or whatever I don’t know. I just sort of said no to it. I was pretty much offered every one after that. But I just felt that I was repeated it. Another control room to blow up; another nutcase taking over the world. Also there is something refreshing about starting a new Bond, and particularly with Pierce [Brosnan]. It was sort of a Cold War sort of situation then, and we had Judi Dench for the first time. So there was a kind of excitement to doing it. Casino Royale was the same thing. Much the same reasons, actually… I think Daniel is terrific. He’s certainly ‘for now,’ do you know what I mean? First of all, he’s a terrific actor, but secondly he brings that sort of toughness and rough edge to Bond that is now so relevant.”
Who would you like to see in the director’s chair for Bond 25? Let us know in the comments below…
Originally published October 7, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
