Denis Villeneuve wants to direct the next James Bond movie. The French Canadian filmmaker is one of the hottest names in Hollywood, currently doing press for his latest blockbuster, the science-fiction epic Dune. The latest film in the Bond franchise, No Time To Die, releases in the United States today, October 8, after having premiered in the UK in September.
For the first time in several years, the Bond films are at a major turning-point. Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time To Die is the final film to feature Daniel Craig in the starring role, ending an era that transitioned 007 into a grittier, more realistic world, which some say has been the franchise at its best. No one knows as of yet what direction Eon Productions will take in choosing his successor, but with the pandemic catalyzing a massive shift in the film and TV landscape, their choice will almost certainly determine whether the series can continue at its current, grand scale.
Villeneuve, who is just coming off a comparably massive production, tells the Happy Sad Confused podcast he'd love a crack at shaping the next iteration of the iconic character. The director identifies himself as a staunch Craig-era fan, and admits that discovering where to go after him would be a real challenge. But, Villeneuve says, his enthusiasm for the franchise would compel him to try anyway:
I would deeply love one day to make a James Bond movie. It’s a character that I’ve been with since my childhood. I have massive affection for Bond. It would be a big challenge to try and reboot it after what Daniel did. What Daniel Craig brought to Bond was so unique and strong and honestly unmatchable. He’s the ultimate James Bond. [...] I don’t know if such a thing would happen, but it would be a privilege. That would be pure cinematic joy.
Villeneuve says that he has yet to see the new film, but is awaiting it with great anticipation, though the No Time To Die director would be major competition for the job. Despite having taken on Craig's last hurrah, Fukunaga would return after the transition if he could, recently revealing he has a pitch for the next Bond movie already planned out. The job, as always, will be highly coveted, with plenty of other big-name filmmakers likely to be interviewed before a choice is made. However, it's unclear if the series' stewards would prefer to pick the new face of franchise before they hear ideas for the film itself, or work with a director to forge a new way forward for 007.
For many, Villeneuve would be an exciting choice for the next James Bond director. A dedicated craftsman with a talent for infusing spectacle with thoughtfulness, he comes in with both big-budget and action-film experience, and would almost surely continue pushing the franchise in the direction of event films. However, if Warner Bros. should decide to greenlight his desired Dune: Part Two, he might be too busy to take the job when it officially opens up.
Source: Happy Sad Confused
