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Christopher Nolan the new frontrunner to direct Bond 25?

GregHarmon GregHarmon Managing Editor Now that BOND 25 has cleared two major hurdles (See Daniel Craig and November 8, 2019 release date), Eon and MGM - the franchise's co-owners - are tasked with landing a new distributor as Sony's decade-long contract to market and distribute the Bond series expired after 2015's Spectre.

As of April, five studios have met with Eon and MGM in an effort to acquire distribution rights for the British spy series based on Ian Fleming's novels. Warner Bros., Sony, Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Annapurna, along with the latest push from streaming giants, Apple and Amazon are all vying for a one-film contract deal; though one would assume both Eon and MGM would seek an extension if all goes accordingly. Now a recent report from the HollywoodLife.com claims Warner Bros. is currently the frontrunner to acquire distribution rights and none other than Christopher Nolan is the top choice to direct "Bond 25".

According to the HollywoodLife's insider “[WB] want to take the franchise in a completely different direction,” the source added, “The producers don’t want him to be the ladies’ man he has been known for and actually want him to get married. Everyone feels Christopher [Nolan] would be the best to steer the film in the direction they are seeking.”

Variety reported back in July that Warner Bros. (WB) is also likely to land distribution rights, which supported an earlier report that Christopher Nolan’s production company “Syncopy” would co-produce "Bond 25" if indeed Warner Bros. prevailed. To add fuel to the speculation, Nolan - a self-proclaimed Bond fan - has already spoken to Eon producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson about possibly directing a future Bond film. In an interview promoting Dunkirk, Nolan shared an interesting nugget:

"I've spoken to the producer Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson over the years. I deeply love the character, and I'm always excited to see what they do with it." Nolan told Playboy "You'd have to be needed, if you know what I mean. It has to need reinvention; it has to need you."

While HollywoodLife's source seems to connect the dots between WB's distribution acquisition and long running speculation of Nolan's involvement, it also connects the dots to rumors of "Bond 25" possibly being a remake of "Bond 6" - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service when George Lazenby’s 007 married – only for his wife to be murdered by Blofeld in the closing scene.

Are the pieces coming to together or are we merely talking in circles?

Posted in No Time to Die,

GregHarmon GregHarmon Managing Editor

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