New details surface as MGM and EON decide on the next director for 'Bond 25'
As of this week we have come to learn the director 'short list' for "Bond 25" is now down to one. But who exactly that is sort of depends on MGM and EON’s contingency plans or plans 1a and 1b as we’ll refer to.
While the previously speculated frontrunner Christopher Nolan is officially out of the running, it was revealed earlier this week that filmmaker Danny Boyle has firmly positioned himself as just the twelfth director to helm MGM's “Bond 25” installment. Sources tell Variety that no formal offer has been made but discussions have taken place and Slumdog Millionaire's Oscar-winning director is now on their short list. Additionally, Deadline also reports that both Boyle and his fellow Trainspotting scribe John Hodge are "quietly penning a version" for MGM and EON’s Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson which essentially gives them one of two contingency plans.
Plan 1a as we'll refer to involves a script from John Hodge that would be directed by Danny Boyle. According to Deadline's Mike Fleming Jr., the script is still a few months out from completion but upon approval, would elevate Boyle to officially take the reigns from Sam Mendes who previously directed the series' highest-grossing entries with Skyfall and Spectre. But if by chance Hodge's version doesn't quite hit the mark, Broccoli and Wilson will fall back to plan 1b with a completed script originally cooked up by the writers of the last three Bond installments Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. MGM & EON would then draw from the original short list including ’71 Yann Demange or Hell or High Water’s David Mackenzie.
Boyle, who is a no-brainer talent with a sharp lens previously collaborated with Daniel Craig for the 2012 Olympics. The bit (found here) features Craig reprising his role as Agent 007 who's escorting Queen Elizabeth II to London's Opening Ceremony. It was Boyle’s work with Craig that spawned his creative for a very specific Bond installment. And 6 years later, he's working out "the beats” on the new script with Hodges.
Will Boyle end up behind the camera? Only time will tell but if you read between the lines, plan 1B has been there this entire time and it appears it’s not MGM nor EON’s first choice.
