'Bond 25': Christoph Waltz confirms something "new"; What does MGM & Annapurna's joint deal mean for Christopher Nolan?
Potentially 'bad' news if you were hoping to hear 'good' news regarding the status of Christoph Waltz or Christopher Nolan for “Bond 25”.
Confirmed 'bad' news first...
The man behind the iconic supervillain in 2015's Spectre will not reprise his role in "Bond 25". That's right, actor Christoph Waltz confirmed during a red carpet interview that he will not reprise the role of Ernst Blofeld: "No [I won't be back], I'm sorry," the two time Oscar-winner told Talky Movie. "I'm really sad, but that's the tradition, that there is a new... name. Sorry. I would've liked to."
You can dissect Waltz's response into equal thirds. First - Waltz refers to a "tradition" where Blofeld has appeared on screen five [credited] times, with each appearance portrayed by a different actor. Second and third - Waltz left a gigantic question mark with "There's a new..." New Villain? New Blofeld? In one short response, Waltz simultaneously confirmed his status for the upcoming installment while leaving the door wide-open for a new Blofeld (see "Bond 6" speculation) or simply to usher in a new villain.
For those hoping to see Christopher Nolan directing Bond 25...
The larger question here still remains, who will direct "Bond 25"? For those holding out hope that Christopher Nolan is your guy, the latest venture between MGM and Annapurna Pictures sorta puts the kibosh on his chances. At least for Bond 25.
Sony's decade-long contract to market and distribute the Bond series expired after 2015's Spectre and five studios have since bid to acquire distribution rights for the British spy series, including Warner Bros., Sony, Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Annapurna. In July, Variety speculated Warner Bros. was likely to land distribution rights and Christopher Nolan's production company "Syncopy" would co-produce, along with the latest source naming Nolan as the frontrunner to direct "Bond 25"
But MGM's joint agreement with Annapurna essentially allows the franchises co-owner MGM (along with Eon - Everything or Nothing) to move back into distribution and retain control over its own product. The joint venture will see Annapurna and MGM working together to distribute their films theatrically in the U.S. Annapurna’s new marketing and distribution team will facilitate marketing for the MGM titles, which will be distributed under the MGM banner. Annapurna-produced films will continue to be distributed under the Annapurna label.
The new distribution joint venture will be run by MGM chairman and CEO Gary Barber and Annapurna founder and CEO Megan Ellison. Both companies will share funding for the joint venture’s operations while retaining creative control over their own projects in which IndieWire projects Annapurna to release four to six films per year and MGM to release eight to ten, including Eli Roth's Death Wish remake and Sylvester Stallone's Creed 2.
While we can't officially count Christopher Nolan out as the director for "Bond 25", we know that every Nolan film since Memento has been distributed by Warner Bros. and co-produced by Syncopy. So where does that leave us? As of today, the other directors in the running are still David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water), Yann Demange (’71), and Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner: 2049). Three directors I would have zero problems taking the reigns for "Bond 25".
For now, MGM and Eon have some time to figure out their next move since "Bond 25" does not hit theaters until November 8, 2019.
Who would you like to see direct?
