Christopher Nolan Came Close to Directing James Bond
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Now that we know Denis Villeneuve of "Dune" fame will be directing the next "James Bond" film, Variety reports that "Oppenheimer" director Christopher Nolan came closer than we thought to helming a film in the franchise.
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Variety says initially Amazon was "very interested" in recruiting Nolan to helm the long-awaited follow-up to "No Time to Die", even if that meant giving Nolan the final cut (something "James Bond" directors have historically been denied).
Christopher Nolan attends the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards held at The Beverly Hilton on February 8, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.
Christopher Nolan attends the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards held at The Beverly Hilton on February 8, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.
JB Lacroix/FilmMagic
As recounted by RadioTimes back in March, this isn't Christopher Nolan's first near-miss with the "Bond" franchise. The filmmaker pitched a "Bond" film after making "Tenet". His vision took the story back to the 1960s and would've been the first of a two-parter.
Things reportedly broke down between Nolan and Barbara Broccoli when the latter wouldn't compromise on giving Nolan the final cut.
Right now, Nolan is busy making "The Odyssey", which stars Tom Holland who is apparently on the shortlist to become the next James Bond. Variety reports the "Spider-Man" star is joined on that list by Jacob Elordi ("Saltburn") and Harris Dickinson ("Babygirl").
While Christopher Nolan ultimately won't be directing the next "Bond" film, his brother Jonathan Nolan was reportedly one of the directors beat out of the final running by Villeneuve. Variety reports the other directors up for the job were Edward Berger ("Conclave"), Edgar Wright ("Baby Driver"), and Paul King ("Wonka").
It's worth mentioning that while Villeneuve is locked in for "Bond 26", there's no telling who might follow for "Bond 27" and beyond. Villeneuve doesn't have final cut and he's only signed on for a single film.
Variety recounts that the last time a director helmed two "Bond" films in a row was Sam Mandes who directed both 2012's "Skyfall" and 2015's "Spectre."
Alfonso Cuarón ("Gravity") is another filmmaker who was, for a time, a favorite to helm the next "Bond" film, but he took himself out of the running by focusing on other projects, including "Jane" which will star Charlize Theron.
There's no word yet on who will write "Bond 26". Some early speculation tapped Jonathan Nolan for the job, but Variety reports that he isn't available to write.
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San Francisco Chronicle
4 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
I love Denis Villeneuve. Here's why the ‘Dune' director making the next James Bond film is a bad idea
This is a bad idea, but more on that in a minute. Amazon MGM Studios and the new producers of the 007 franchise, Amy Pascal and David Heyman, announced Wednesday, June 25, that the ' Dune ' filmmaker will direct the next Bond picture, which would be the first without Daniel Craig in a quarter of a century. No actor has been cast to slip on the shoulder holster yet, although a report said Spider-Man Tom Holland, 'Euphoria' actor Jacob Elordi and 'Babygirl' star Harris Dickinson top Amazon's wish list. 'Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007,' Villeneuve said in a statement. 'I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since 'Dr. No' with Sean Connery. I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.' On the surface, this is a no-brainer. Villeneuve is possibly the best big-budget genre filmmaker out there. He will turn his attention to Bond after completing 'Dune: Messiah,' the third chapter in the trilogy, which is due out in 2026. The first two, 'Dune' and 'Dune: Part Two,' were Oscar-nominated for best picture. He also directed a compelling sequel to a classic, ' Blade Runner: 2049 ' (2017), and his science fiction film ' Arrival ' (2016) has popped up on several ballots for the top 10 movies of the 21st century in a recent New York Times poll. Nevertheless, the choice has left me shaken, not stirred. Villeneuve is exactly who the Bond films don't need right now. Craig reinvigorated the franchise with a tough, serious approach in five films beginning with 'Casino Royale' (2006), a throwback to Connery after years of a more lighthearted approach by Pierce Brosnan and especially Roger Moore. By ' No Time to Die ' (2021), Craig's take on the character took personal torment to an almost Shakespearean level, and when he finally did find time to die, it was … quite the choice. 'No Time to Die,' directed by Oakland native Cary Joji Fukunaga, was an impressive, large-scale movie, no doubt, and it was exciting and compelling, a worthy coda to Craig's reign. But I walked out of the movie theater thinking, 'I remember when James Bond films were fun.' Double-oh-seven needs to be fun again. I'm not saying we should go back to 'Moonraker' (1979), the most unserious Bond film, an almost self-parody in which Moore is one step removed from Leslie Nielsen in the ' Naked Gun ' movies. But let's lighten up a bit. As terrific a filmmaker as he is, Villeneuve is the antithesis of 'lighten up.' His films are deadly serious. The guy who made the FBI drama ' Sicario ' can certainly direct an action sequence, but generating a laugh doesn't seem to be in his wheelhouse. Or, for that matter, a sex scene. When was the last sexually charged moment in a Villeneuve film? The Bond films, of course, are famous for their women, cringey in the 1960s but at least up to date in the Craig universe. Who should Pascal and Heyman have hired instead? Apparently, Christopher Nolan, who has long expressed interest in directing a Bond film, is occupied with his adaptation of Homer's ' The Odyssey,' the Oscar-winning filmmaker's first film since ' Oppenheimer,' the 2023 best picture winner. Villeneuve reportedly got the job over Edward Berger (' All Quiet on the Western Front,' ' Conclave '), Edgar Wright ('Shaun of the Dead,' ' Baby Driver '), Paul King (' Paddington,' ' Wonka ') and Jonathan Nolan, Christopher's brother who has worked mostly in television. My choice would have been David Leitch, the action specialist of ' Bullet Train ' and ' The Fall Guy.' Leitch rose up through the ranks as a stunt performer and coordinator, used to be an actor and co-directed the first ' John Wick ' movie. He has style and, when the script demands it, substance. The old Bonds of Connery and Moore were directed by genre directors, and two of the most successful reboots of the series, 'Goldeneye' (1995) and 'Casino Royale' (2006) were directed by action specialist Martin Campbell.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Make James Bond an ‘Alcoholic, a Drug Addict. He Hates Women': Matthew Goode's ‘Really Dark' 007 Pitch Got Him Dropped From ‘Casino Royale' Auditions
Matthew Goode recently appeared on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast and clarified rumors about him auditioning for James Bond. Before Daniel Craig was cast in 2006's 'Casino Royale,' a handful of actors such as Henry Cavill, Rupert Friend and Sam Worthington all went out for the part. But Goode, a relative newcomer at the time with credits like the Mandy Moore rom-com 'Chasing Liberty' and Woody Allen's 'Match Point' under his belt, never got to actually audition because he bombed his meeting with 007 franchise producer Barbara Broccoli. 'I didn't audition. I went in and met Barbara [Broccoli],' Goode said. 'It was quite a funny one because — and she's gorgeous and just a lovely, lovely person — she was like, 'So what's your idea for Bond?' And I was like, 'My idea for Bond. We've gotta take it back to the books, you know? Really, we absolutely have to make this guy an alcoholic, a drug addict. He hates himself. He hates women. He hates a lot of people. He's in deep pain. He's brilliant at killing people.''Goode continued, 'I think by the end of the interview, she was like, 'Mhmm. Next.' I wanted to make it really dark, but what I should have said was, 'But also incredibly charming.'' More from Variety What's Next for Denis Villeneuve's Bond Movie? Amazon's Wishlist Includes Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson Denis Villeneuve to Direct James Bond Film at Amazon Mads Mikkelsen Reprises James Bond 'Casino Royale' Villain Le Chiffre for 'Hitman'-'007 First Light' Video Game Crossover Cavill did it make into the audition room but was considered too young to the play the role. Craig was ultimately chosen, kick-starting a new Bond era on the big screen that would reach an all-time franchise high with 2012's 'Skyfall' ($1.1 billion grossed worldwide). Craig exited 007 in 2021's 'No Time to Die.' Broccoli and co-producer Michael G. Wilson are no longer running the Bond franchise after they shockingly sold creative rights to Amazon MGM Studios earlier this year. Amazon recently announced that Denis Villeneuve has been hired to direct the next 007 movie, although no actor is currently attached to play the new Bond. In a new report from Variety, insiders said that Amazon is seeking a British actor under the age of 30 for to assume the 007 mantle. Per the report: 'Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson are at the top of the list. Elordi is Australian, but that would not be a deal-breaker as far as Amazon is concerned; remember Aussie George Lazenby starred in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service.'' Watch Goode's full. interview on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast in the video below. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar
Time Magazine
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- Time Magazine
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