James Bond history is full of "what if" scenarios, but the prospect of Danny Boyle directing Bond 25 represents the biggest missed opportunity of all. Directed by Cary Fukunaga, No Time To Die is the long-awaited conclusion of Daniel Craig's 007 tenure, but as much as fans are looking forward to (finally) witnessing this concluding chapter, the film has endured a troubled production. Bond 25 was originally to be directed by Danny Boyle, famous for 28 Days Later, Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire and the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics. Bond's long-serving producers aren't exactly known for giving their directors free reign, and sure enough, Boyle departed due to creative differences. Fukunaga gamely stepped into the vacancy.
In its final form, No Time To Die appears to be a typical entry in the modern James Bond mold, full of tense action, a facially scarred villain, romantic secrets, and mysterious strangers. No Time To Die is dipping a single tentative toe into uncharted territory with Nomi, but it remains to be seen how well she'll be utilized. Rumors also suggest that Bond could die for the very first time on the big screen, but this too remains unconfirmed. Those two fresh potential additions aside, No Time To Die appears to sit firmly within the standard Bond format. Given the nature of his departure, Danny Boyle was likely planning something more revolutionary.
Much like its leading character, the James Bond franchise is nigh-on indestructible, having transcended seven separate decades without ever seriously waning in popularity. 007 has survived some real stinkers, bouncing back each time, but that longevity comes from a willingness to take risks - changing the lead actor, shifting to a lighter tone, rebooting with Casino Royale and, most shocking of all, casting a blond. A director like Danny Boyle would be naturally inclined to take 007 in a different direction, which would've been 007's first creative leap of faith since 2006, but Eon has instead opted for the safer route.
The most confusing aspect of the whole situation is that this "riskier" Bond 25 wasn't exactly in the hands of an amateur - this is Danny Boyle. Oscar winning, box office smashing, critically revered national treasure Danny Boyle. In hiring the director, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson surely knew Bond 25 wasn't getting a run of the mill action blockbuster filmmaker, and that Boyle would inevitably seek to put his own spin on Bond.
As for what that spin would've been, Boyle himself has remained tight-lipped. The best insight comes from No Time To Die production designer, Mark Tildesley, who spoke positively about Boyle's plan but described the director's vision as "crazy" and "madcap." A Telegraph report also claimed that Boyle was unable to cast Tomasz Kot for his Russian villain. These details suggest a markedly different James Bond movie, but perhaps one more grounded in reality and real-world events. Kot's past roles point to an atypical Bond villain - a more public-facing, charismatic figure than the traditional "enemy in the shadows."
Fans will likely never know for sure what Boyle was scheming, but missing out on having a visionary filmmaker reshape the future of James Bond feels like the franchise's biggest missed opportunity - even more so than the unmade third Timothy Dalton film or turning down Henry Cavill. Bond is at his best when leading the way, bringing innovation and reinvention to the big screen. History also shows that Bond falls flat after finding a familiar format, with the Connery, Moore and Brosnan eras all lasting one film longer than they should've. Given that many expected Daniel Craig to depart following Spectre's solid-but-unspectacular reviews, there's a risk that No Time To Die could follow that unfortunate tradition. Producers might then look back at Danny Boyle's idea and wonder whether allowing the director to reinvent James Bond was the preferable option after all, despite the risks.
