Trio Of High Profile Directors Shortlisted To Helm James Bond 25

After it was announced James Bond will be returning to US cinema screens in November 2019 and in the UK around October 2019.

Things have been moving even more quickly as Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are looking at a trio of high-profile directors to helm Bond 25.

Deadline revealed the shortlist of directors are all coming off critically acclaimed movies.

YANN DEMANGE - IMAGE VIA GETTY IMAGES/ LENNART PRESS

 

First up is French filmmaker Yann Demange, who is coming off the military thriller ’71 and is currently working on the Matthew McConaughey led crime drama White Boy Rick.

Another option is the helmer of the Oscar nominated Western Drama Hell or High Water, David Mackenzie. He also directed prison drama Starred Up.

DAVID MACKENZIE

Fun fact: Both Demange’s ‘71 and Mackenzie’s Starred Up starred Jack O’Connell.

The final choice is Arrival and Blade Runner 2049’s, Denis Villeneuve. However, the issue with Villeneuve is he’s attached to the Dune reboot at Lionsgate and there’s also a chance of Blade Runner sequels.

DENIS VILLENEUVE

After this report come out, Variety added that Demange is, in fact, the frontrunner for Bond 25.

The one name missing from the list is Christopher Nolan.

He has expressed his interest to director James Bond and has spoken to Broccoli and Wilson over the years.

I’m not too surprised Nolan’s not on the shortlist as he’ll likely direct Bond 26 with a brand new Bond and put his own spin on the character, which would be continued in future films.

Earlier in the week, Eon Productions have confirmed that franchise veteran screenplay Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are working on the script following up on Spectre.

Even though it’s not been officially confirmed yet, but Daniel Craig is also set to return one last time to his time with James Bond.

IMAGE VIA 007.COM

The final thing is Bond 25 still doesn’t have a distributor as Eon/MGM’s contact with Sony has expired and Variety are also reporting that Warner Bros could be the studio that lands the franchise.

James Bond 25 will be in US cinemas on November 8, 2019, and opening earlier in the UK with a date to be announced likely sometime in October 2019.