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'Bond 22' Director Rumours

Marc Forster, Tony Scott, Alex Proyas, and Jonathan Mostow

Martin Campbell was announced as the director of 'Casino Royale' a year before shooting began. Since the film will start shooting early 2008 to meet the November 2008 release date, EON is probably talking to directors right now. One of the these directors was Roger Michell, who was announced as the director of Bond 22, before dropping out due to creative differences. So who are likely candidates? Well, according to an interview with Campbell, he recently had lunch with director Roger Donaldson ('No Way Out', 'Thirteen Days' & 'The Recruit'). Perhaps the topic was Bond you ask? Probably not, because Donaldson signed on to direct 'Bakerstreet' starring Jason Strathaim.

So who does that leave us with? Bear in mind that EON tend to go for (British/Scottish/Welsh/Australian/New Zealander) seasoned professionals, who can be trusted to put a great Bond film together, but don't have a tendency to put their stamp on it. Directors whose "personal vision" won't collide with EON's workethics. The other directors mentioned in the my original Bond 21 directors list (click here) are still valid options.

Stephen Frears ('The Grifters', 'Dangerous Liasons' & 'High Fidelity), Jon Amiel ('Copy Cat', 'The Man Who Knew Too Little' & 'Entrapment'), Stephen Hopkins ('The Ghost and the Darkness', 'Blown Away' & '24'), Richard Loncraine ('Richard III', 'Wimbledon' & 'Firewall') & Mike Barker ('Best Laid Plans', 'A Good Woman' & 'Butterfly on a Wheel' starring Pierce Brosnan & Gerard Butler) don't have any prior engagements.

Martin Campbell & Stuart Baird ('Executive Decision', 'U.S. Marshals' & 'Star Trek: Nemesis') are also options, but after working on 'Casino Royale', they probably can use a break (perhaps Baird as editor, but not as director).

Michael Caton-Jones ('Rob Roy', 'The Jackal' & 'Basic Instinct 2') was offered 'GoldenEye' and declined, so he doesn't seem to be interested in Bond (eventhough his career could use a hit). And there's still Antonia Bird ('Face', 'Priest' & 'Ravenous'). A great choice, eventhough she is a woman. It would be intriguing linking a female director to a Bond film starring Daniel Craig.

I think Campbell will return.

The proverbial "creative differences" will keep away most directors we know and like...Michael T. and Barbara DO like to have their say (they've earned it, though)...

Martin Campbell or Matthew Vaughn. I seriously believe it will be between these two. They'll offer it to Campbell. If he says 'no' then it'll go to Vaughn who will probably accept.

I'd love to see Vaughn give it a go. He was offered CR, as we know, and there was an article on Mitchel awhile back where he was interviewed about the situation which seemed a bit odd, perhaps he was around the studio...?

I'll put my money on Campbell. The sweet smell of critical acclaim must be as welcome to him as to Eon after all these years. True, the shoots are long and brutal. But the payoff this time has been lovely. For him, at age 65, one more would put him on the A-list, wouldn't it, if he's not there already.

I believe it will be Cambell just becasue he'll be able to keep the Bond franchise in the direction its trying to go in after Casino Royale. Also he probly won't try to go back to cliche Bond films.

I don't understand how Vaughn would make a good director for a Bond movie. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED Layer Cake, but he is no Bond director. Just take the way Craig killed Jimmy for example. Right when Craig was about to shoot Jim the camera zoomed away really quickly. Have you ever seen that in a Bond film? No.

Just becuase a director makes a Bond actor look good in a movie doesn't mean he should direct the Bond film itself.

But anyway....

I think they will offer it to Campbell again, but he will (unfortunately) say no.

My vote is for Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith).

This post has been edited by MR. BOND 93: 6 December 2006 - 00:07

Wasn't what made CR really popular was that it was different from all that came before it? Why not take it a step further?



errr...ever see the gunbarrels?



I don't think that's the case here. Vaughn has a cool, edgey style that suits Craig and would work well in a OO7 film.

For some reason, I think Alfonso Cuaron is a possibility. Just a gut feeling. Ditto Michael Winterbottom, even though he'd be an extremely eccentric and risky choice and has no "big budget mainstream" experience to speak of (then again, was that not also the case with Paul Greengrass prior to THE BOURNE SUPREMACY?). If HANNIBAL RISING is well-received, Peter Webber may be up for the gig. Paul McGuigan (considered for CASINO ROYALE) would be a great choice after LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN, a pretty good film with a few in-joke references to Bond, but he may be too busy. There's also Lee Tamahori, who seems to have a good relationship with Eon and (in spite of his dire XXX sequel) would be an experienced 007 director a la Campbell and a decent choice if able to control his CGI obsession. Matthew Vaughn would be great, but appears to be pursuing his own projects. Stephen Frears (lined up to direct the cancelled Jinx spinoff film, and currently on excellent form [last three features: DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS and THE QUEEN]) may well be a frontrunner. Stuart Baird (considered as the director of DIE ANOTHER DAY, I believe) may be on the shortlist, along with Phillip Noyce and possibly Alexander Witt. Plenty of choices, and doubtless many I haven't even thought of.

Interesting. Before CASINO ROYALE, I would have said he's too high-profile, but now I don't think so.


Definitely.


He was considered for CASINO ROYALE? Interesting.


Somehow I doubt he'd be brought back for Bond. I know you'd like to think so (you love DIE ANOTHER DAY), but not only did the producers bash DIE ANOTHER DAY after its release, that seems to be the exact kind of film they want to avoid. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, but they'll get a lot of hell from the fanbase here if they do.


Yeah, but to only a certain extent. He was interested in doing a Bond film, so he might be willing to put things on hold to do BOND 22.


I hope so.


All believable choices. And as you say, there's probably a long list at this point.

You're analyzing it far too much. Just because they do something for one film doesn't mean they'll do it for their next. Take your favorite Doug Liman. Have you seen any of the films he did prior to The Bourne Identity? Like.. Swingers? They're not even remotely close. They'll never pick Liman anyway since he's a producer of the Bourne series .. and an American - I think they'll go for a Brit or someone from a country in the Commonwealth like they always have.

Vaughn is a rising star. His next film is a fantasy that is thus far getting rave reviews from early screenings. He'd be a great choice.

Ooohh I like the idea of Paul McGuigan. LNS was great. But I still think Vaughn is a bad idea.