It sounds likeJames Bond 25is very much heating up. While there have been a number of variables up in the air for theSpectrefollow-up, namely ifDaniel Craigwill actually return, EON Productions set a November 2019 release datethe other day, signaling that they’re moving forward. Indeed, Deadline now has the list of the three frontrunners in line to directBond 25, and they are fantastic. The three names in Deadline’s report areDenis Villeneuve(Sicario,Arrival),Yann Demange(’71), andDavid Mackenzie(Hell or High Water).
All three of these filmmakers are great, and I’d be happy with any one of them. Villeneuve is probably the “biggest” name of the bunch, having helmed terrific thrillers likeSicarioandArrivalbefore making the big leap with this fall’sBlade Runner 2049. He can handle action, character, and story in equal measure, and he would likely bring DPRoger Deakinsback into the fold after Deakins shotSkyfall.
Mackenzie is a “hot” name at the moment, coming off Best Picture nomineeHell or High Water. He also directed the 2013 filmStarred Upand his name surfaced recently as a possibility to step into Universal’sScarfaceremake. And Demange broke out in a big way with his thriller’71, and he most recently wrappedWhite Boy RickwithMatthew McConaughey.Varietyis separately reporting that Demange is actually the main frontrunner here, and it’s worth noting that Villeneuve has already lined upDuneas his next project, so if he directedBond 25he’d have to push that back.
WhileChristopher NolanandEdgar Wrighthave surfaced as possibilities recently as well, these two filmmakers likely wouldn’t take on Bond until the franchise needs a reboot, so they can start from scratch and enact their own unique vision. We learned this week that Craigis expected to reprise his role as Bond forBond 25, so whether this is a closing chapter or just another new entry will determine the likelihood of us seeing a NolanBondmovie in the next decade.
Sam Mendesreinvigorated the franchise with the stunningSkyfalland returned to helmSpectreto…disappointing results. That film introducedChristoph Waltzas franchise villain Blofeld, so it’ll be interesting to see ifBond 25continues that thread or leaves it be.Neal PurvisandRobert Wade, who have scripted almost all of the recentBondmovies, are back to pen the screenplay for25.
The distribution rights toBondare still up in the air, as studios like Sony, Warner Bros., Annapurna, Fox, and Universal are all vying for the opportunity to produce and distribute the next fewBondmovies after EON’s contract with Sony ended onSpectre. That will likely be secured up shortly as EON is looking to put the pieces into place, and Deadline notes we should hear who’s directing this thing by the end of the summer.
Who’s your pick, folks? Sound off in the comments below.
