The Top 5 Directors That Could Helm the Next James Bond Film
18 August 2023 14:34
We might be years away from the next release but excited fans and the media have already started speculating about who will be sitting in the director's chair when the time comes to shoot Bond 26. Along with the discussions surrounding the next James Bond actor it has always been one of the major talking points. Everyone must know because it gives us our earliest glimpse of the trajectory that the film will take.
This comes despite the well-known fact that producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have absolute control on creative decisions. They tend to select directors that fit their way of thinking and only then do they allow the directors some space to add their own flair. That’s why it’s rare for an auteur to be given the reigns to the franchise… Danny Boyle’s departure from No Time To Die mere months before filming being a notable example of why it’s so risky.
However, that is not to say the producers will definitely be choosing a journeyman director for Bond 26. Sam Mendes (Skyall, SPECTRE) and Cary Joji Fukunaga (No Time To Die) were both considered auteurs long before they signed up for Bond. By all accounts the directors got along well with the extended Bond family and produced some of the most thrilling entries in the history of the franchise.
With that in mind, we thought it would be interesting to look at some of the most promising directors who might helm Bond 26 with a main focus on auteurs – who needs a safe pair of hands anyways? So here are our five top choices of filmmakers, both old and new, each with their own unique vision and style they could bring to the table.
001 Christopher Nolan
Christopher Nolan has been the fan favourite to direct a Bond film ever since Inception. An auteur famous for his non-linear narratives and intricate storytelling, he makes movies like no other. Nolan has shown his ability to reinvent well-established franchises as was the case with The Dark Knight trilogy, which was both critically and financially a hit. His recent success with Oppenheimer, currently sitting at a comfortable $650 million worldwide, further improves his impressive track-record.
Nolan would inject his own intellectual perspective into the franchise, basing Bond’s world in real science and keeping things practical. This would include the stunt work and special effects which he always tries to capture in-camera with minimal CGI. His signature visual style and ability to blend blockbuster action with existential themes could provide a Bond film that urges the audience to think while still delivering on the excitement that we’ve all come to expect.
It’s a surprise then that Nolan has never directed one of the films. The culprit is ultimately bad timing. For nearly two decades Nolan has been directing a new movie every 2-3 years, which is a narrow schedule when you consider he writes his own screenplays. This gives him little time to develop a Bond film between his stream of passion projects.
Nolan stated he would like to reinvent Bond instead of continuing with an existing actor, which is what killed the idea post Casino Royale. In other words, Nolan wants to establish a Bond and tell his story through to the end as a singular vision. With Craig’s departure this has finally opened the door to create his own arc. Perhaps as a closed trilogy (a franchise first!). Due to the ongoing Hollywood strikes, Nolan recently promised not to develop any projects as an act of solidarity. This lines up well with the producers’ own sabbatical after No Time To Die. All of these factors make this the perfect time for Nolan to direct a James Bond film.
002 Denis Villeneuve
With an impressive filmography that includes Blade Runner 2049 and Dune, auteur Denis Villeneuve is no stranger to tackling complex and visually stunning blockbusters from existing IP. His ability to place us in immersive worlds and put us through uncomfortable ethical dilemmas would bring a new dimension to the Bond franchise. No doubt his vision of Bond 26 would push boundaries and that is saying something considering the final act of No Time To Die.
His other work like Prisoners and Sicario also proves he is a master at directing tight thrillers with a natural talent for creating suspense. These movies were made with limited budgets and became sleeper hits at the box office, making $122 million and $84 million respectively. Returning to smaller budgets would be a welcome turn of events because there’s simply no excuse to spend +$250 million when Casino Royale was made for $150 million at the time. Villeneuve would be efficient and would put all the money on the screen just like Cubby Broccoli had always championed.
Villeneuve has also gone on record proclaiming his lifelong love for the character. If given the opportunity he would run with it and deliver a reboot that stands the test of time because he’s just as much of a fan as anyone. He understands the weight that comes with helming the franchise so the last thing he’d do is phone it in. This enthusiasm would show itself in the final film. In brief, if the worst thing that can happen is that Bond 26 becomes a misunderstood cult classic, then we’re in good hands with Villeneuve.
003 Edgar Wright
Known for his unique blend of humour and action, Edgar Wright has directed beloved films such as Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and more recently Baby Driver. Wright's energetic direction could infuse a new level of wacky, kinetic energy into the Bond series – capturing the British essence of the character while adding back the comedic touch.
Indeed, this latter aspect of the franchise has been missing ever since Pierce Brosnan left the role. Not to denigrate the sarcastic humour or dark tone of the Daniel Craig era, which the majority of Bond fans appreciated, but it’s about time the fun ‘spirit’ of the franchise made its return. Wright even has his own ‘milk/dark chocolate’ theory saying that every new actor must alternate things.
Edgar Wright is just the man to do this. He’s extremely inventive when creating comedic moments. Think of the visual gags in Hot Fuzz, the captions in Scott Pilgrim or his trademark slapstick action sequences in The World’s End. It’s all carefully considered but comes across as effortless. A lot of the humour comes from the sharp editing which he has strong control over. For Bond 26 he would need to tone the humour down a bit of course, but the potential for a fun Bond film is definitely there.
Just like James Bond, Wright is inherently British and his nationality forms a large part of his identity. He grew up closely with the character and understands the nuances that go into the Bond persona that make him unique. So his thoughts likely align with the producers' own ideas on the direction the character should take. Wright has also had positive experiences working with Bond alumni such as composer David Arnold who would make a fantastic pairing for Bond 26.
004 Greta Gerwig
Greta Gerwig might be this list’s outlier but she more than deserves her own spot to become the first woman to direct a Bond film. With her early successes in films like Lady Bird and Little Women, Gerwig proved that she can direct timeless stories that dive deep into complex relationships and societal issues. These themes are universal and could easily be applied to a modern Bond film.
With Barbie she took these themes one step further and cemented herself as one of the leading feminist filmmakers of our time. The movie became a cultural event and has already made more than Skyfall did at $1.2 billion. Her feminist perspective would breathe new life into the James Bond franchise: exploring what makes Bond tick, while redefining the character’s relationship with women.
Right now Gerwig is signed on to direct two Narnia movies for Netflix as part of her plan to become a big studio director. This scheduling might seem to rule her out but Bond 26 could be years away and she doesn’t need to make them back-to-back. The experience would also familiarise her with blockbuster action filmmaking, which is needed even if the 2nd Unit on Bond films is renowned for going above and beyond. All in all, Gerwig’s unique perspective would make Bond 26 an exciting event that even the most casual moviegoer couldn’t miss.
005 Martin Campbell
Has there ever been a better Bond director since Martin Campbell? His track record of rejuvenating the James Bond franchise twice makes him an ideal candidate for Bond 26. Having successfully helmed GoldenEye and Casino Royale, he reintroduced Bond each time with modern sophistication and visceral action. It’s no wonder the producers always circled back asking him to direct.
Campbell doesn’t settle for anything other than absolute perfection. From the writing to the stunt work and the emotional beats – he knows exactly what he’s doing. He managed to turn more than 30 minutes of poker into a thrilling deathmatch. He subverted everyone’s expectations of what Bond was capable of doing and created two icons overnight. It might not sound so difficult but that’s only because Campbell made it look so easy.
Daniel Craig’s arc came to an abrupt end with No Time To Die so a reboot is guaranteed at this point. Thankfully this is the one thing that would motivate Campbell to step in just as he did in 1995 and 2006. At 79 years of age this might seem like a stretch but similar to George Miller his passion for making action movies has remained. Just watch The Foreigner or The Protégé to see his spark.
Nolan is undoubtedly the fan favourite and his style of old-school filmmaking would fit right into the franchise. Villeneuve maintains a unique balance of auteur and blockbuster filmmaking styles. He can work on tighter budgets and would put every dollar at his disposal on the screen. Edgar Wright is another solid candidate for his ability to seamlessly use humour and this could add the much needed fun back into the franchise. Gerwig has become a household name and would guarantee Bond would stay relevant going into 2030. Finally, there’s Martin Campbell who successfully brought Bond back to life twice and the time has finally come that he might want to return. Tell us what you think of our list on social media!