Following No Time to Die's groundbreaking conclusion to Daniel Craig's tenure as 007, the franchise now has the opportunity to make good on a tradition that was started with a couple of the more modern Bond films. Changes are needed for the 007 movies after Bond 25, which was anything but traditional in many ways. Daniel Craig is now well-and-truly gone, and a new 007 is due to wear the holster, equip the Walther PPK, and don the tuxedo.
For the sake of the commercial success and longevity of the franchise, it has always been important that the first Bond film starring the new actor playing 007 kicks off the new era with a bang. All of the Bond actors' first 007 movies have all had something unique and fresh to offer audiences. Now, there is now an opportunity with Bond 26 to establish what seems to be a tradition with both of the first Bond films starring Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.
Both purposed as reboots for the franchise, GoldenEye and Casino Royale, the two most recent initial entries starring the new Bonds, were both directed by Martin Campbell. Both films were a roaring success commercially and critically, showcasing that Campbell clearly knows how to reinvent and introduce a new James Bond on the silver screen with enough explosive force to create a lasting impact. More importantly, however, Campbell has demonstrated an ability to get fans hooked on the new 007 from the get-go, whether through gritty action sequences or groundbreaking visual effects - meaning he would be the most sensible choice to direct Bond 26.
Even though No Time to Die was, much like most of Craig's outings as Bond, still more angst-ridden and emotional compared to older 007 romps, it also contained ample action and bombast. Yet Craig's previous three Bond films were not especially action-orientated compared to Casino Royale and the Pierce Brosnan films. Martin Campbell, with many great movies to his name, is still one of the best action directors in the UK, and having him inject some frivolous yet action-oriented fun into Bond 26 would act as a deeply satisfying opener for the new Bond candidate.
Campbell's two blockbuster 007 hits, GoldenEye and Casino Royale, were both products of troubling circumstances surrounding the franchise. Eon was contending with legal problems following Dalton's second outing, License to Kill, birthing to GoldenEye six years later, and Casino Royale followed Die Another Day which was universally panned by critics. Both of Campbell's films were under intense pressure, as they were relied upon to revive the franchise, and Campbell has therefore proven himself extremely competent in dealing successfully with such pressures and delivering when it really matters.
Martin Campbell would perhaps be the wisest and the most risk-free choice to direct Bond 26. GoldenEye and Casino Royale are some of the most popular Bond movies of modern time and are generally considered Brosnan's and Craig's best respective films in the franchise. However, with the new 007 and director yet to be announced, only time will tell just how traditional the Bond producers are willing to be after No Time to Die's success.