7 Directors We’d Like To See Take on Bond 25

The world was robbed of its opportunity of seeing James Bond inject heroin to the sounds of Pulp when Danny Boyle dramatically quit over casting disagreements. While many of us wanted to see how the idiosyncratic director would reinterpret the classic character, at least now it gives us the chance to suggest who would make a perfect replacement. Below are seven directors we think are more than capable of taking on the reins.

 

1. Christopher McQuarrie – The Obvious Bond

Since Mission: Impossible was softly rebooted in 2011, the Tom Cruise series has gone from strength to strength, culminating in the straight-up action masterpiece Fallout. In comparison, Bond peaked with Skyfall before crashing back to earth with the lacklustre Spectre in 2015. As the man to bring unbelievably high-stakes, CGI-free action to a whole new level – while staying humble and keeping things on budget – Chris McQuarrie is the most practical choice. Reminiscent of when J.J. Abrams was given the rights to direct both Star Trek and Star Wars, it may make the two seem too similar, but given his collaborative approach, he could easily bring the best out of Daniel Craig and his co-writers.

 

2. Lynne Ramsey – PTSD Bond

When you dig beneath the cool veneer of Bond – his penchant for dry martinis, nice suits, flashy cars and sexy women – something far darker lies beneath the surface. This is a man whose lovers keep dying, drinks way too much and has seen things that would break another man. Perhaps Bond acts in such a way because deep down he’s in pain? Lynne Ramsey would bring a great perspective to this character, as evidenced in her excellent depiction of a trauma-stricken hitman in You Were Never Really Here. While male directors may be too afraid to see Bond as someone who could really hurt, Lynne Ramsey would take no prisoners in her bruising approach.

 

3. Christopher Nolan – Very Serious Bond

This is the one the internet wants to see, and while it seems like an extremely obtuse choice, Christopher Nolan could do a whole lot with a James Bond film. Still coming down from the acclaim of turning comic book films into Very Serious Art, Nolan has a knack for creating nail-biting dramatic tension and marrying it with a deliciously ambiguous tone. It also goes without saying that a Bond story is perfect ground for the director, seeming as both the iconic character and Nolan’s protagonists become who they are thanks to the death of their loved ones.

 

4. Denis Villeneuve – Bond, Beautifully Lit

Since breaking into the mainstream with Prisoners and Sicario, Villeneuve has been the go-to guy when it comes to reinterpreting arty franchises and making them feel fresh. Being able to take huge budgets and make them feel personal – the $150 million Blade Runner 2049 being the most expensive art-house film ever made – Villeneuve’s take on Bond would combine cutting edge visual effects with a deep emotional heft. As Villeneuve’s frequent cinematographer Roger Deakins, has also worked on Bond, elevating Skyfall to the best Bond film of the 21st century, this seems like a really natural fit. He’ll just have to find a way to fit it into his schedule, with both adaptations of The Son and Dune already on his slate.

 

5. Gaspar Noé – Bond Goes to the Extreme

Since Bond went full camp in Die Another Day – replete with invisible cars, ice palaces and Madonna – the franchise has become rather serious. Perhaps it’s time to let loose once again? While this decision is likely never to happen, and even if he was offered the chance he would probably deny it, but the idea of Noé in charge of Bond could push the character to the extreme. He is a merciless killer after all. Combine that with Noé’s swirling camera movement, penchant for the grotesque, and a sick sense of humour, this could be the R-rated arthouse reinvention the character desperately needs.

 

6. Patty Jenkins – Bond Goes Back to the Basics

As director of the best superhero origin movie in recent memory, Patty Jenkins knows a thing or two about exceeding expectations. Wonder Woman took DC back to the basics, combining the classic iconography of the comic books with a clear plot and a strong moral arc. Spectre was the opposite of all those things – creating a completely unneeded wider universe. Jenkins may look like an left-field choice at first, but she could easily take Bond and bring him back to the basics, creating the purest Bond film since Casino Royale. After all, she showed up everyone before.

 

7. Kenneth Branagh – The Full British Bond

It’s important to remember that while James Bond can be played by anyone – Idris Elba, please – he should definitely be British. And who more British than Kenneth Branagh himself? This is the man who took Shakespeare – the most British thing after Bond and The Beatles – in the late 80s and made it fun again, bringing out fantastic adaptations of Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing and Hamlet. While the director’s recent output leaves a lot to be desired, these credits show that he knows how to adapt classic material and make it seem vital. Perhaps he could also guest-star as Q?