Well, this is certainly a bit unexpected.
Last we heard in regards to the director hunt for Bond 25, MGM’s shortlist was whittled down to three: Yann Demange, David Mackenzie and Denis Villeneuve. And though the latter is still riding high following his success on Blade Runner 2049, Villeneuve recently distanced himself from the prospect of helming the pic due to his ongoing commitment to Dune over at Legendary.
That left many thinking that Demange was the clear favorite, but now a new contender has entered the ring, with Variety reporting that Danny Boyle, of Trainspotting and Slumdog Millionaire fame, is being eyed for the job. It’s not a done deal just yet, but apparently the studio wants a big name to get behind the camera and Boyle’s who they’re trying to rope in.
Following the lukewarm reception to Spectre, Daniel Craig has long made it clear that he wants to exit the James Bond franchise on a high note, so there’s a very good chance he’ll be on board with a prolific director in the vein of Boyle.
Whether the Powers That Be can find room on his busy schedule, though, is another matter entirely. Currently in the process of nudging his new show Trust across the finish line, a much in demand filmmaker like Danny Boyle is sure to have his plate full with all sorts of projects in various stages of development. But something tells us he’ll be able to make time to direct a 007 movie. After all, this isn’t an opportunity that comes around very often.
Scripted by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, whose James Bond stint spans Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre, the untitled Bond 25 will be with us on November 8th, 2019 – with or without Danny Boyle in the director’s chair.