MGM
One of the biggest stories out of Hollywood so far this year is Amazon MGM Studios acquiring full creative control of the James Bond franchise from the previous stewards of the iconic series, the Broccoli family. This deal allows Amazon to do whatever they want with the character, from casting choices to spin-offs to potential TV shows.
Now that 007 is in the grasp of Amazon Prime Video, production on the next film in the franchise will likely begin sometime this year, as it’s now been four years since the last James Bond film, 2021’s No Time To Die.
While Amazon has yet to attach any talent to the project — betting websites have long had actors such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Mescal, James Norton, Henry Cavill, Damson Idris, Harris Dickinson, Rege-Jean Page, Callum Turner, Theo James, and Jack Lowden as contenders for the role — a new report has indicated that the behemoth company is eyeing Christopher Nolan to direct the next Bond film.
Nolan, 54 years old, is coming off 2023 Oscar wins for Best Director and Best Picture, and is currently in production on his next film The Odyssey, which will release on July 17, 2026, meaning that if Amazon wants Nolan to helm the next Bond film, they’ll likely have to wait. Nolan, a Brit, has previously expressed an interested in directing a Bond movie.
“According to half a dozen industry insiders that spoke to TheWrap, Christopher Nolan remains both the top choice and the perfect filmmaker to reinvigorate Bond. Last week, another outlet reported that Nolan almost came close to directing a Bond movie after Tenet, yet he opted to direct Oppenheimer instead because Barbara Broccoli wouldn’t grant him final cut.”
The industry sources who spoke to TheWrap believe that waiting for Nolan is exactly what the studio should do, however, as it launches this new era of James Bond.
“’If Amazon wants to preserve the legacy, they should do everything possible to get Chris Nolan and wait for him as long as needed,’ a top franchise film producer told TheWrap.”
Given Nolan’s status as a director, a Bond film helmed by him would be a strong contender to become just the second 007 movie to gross over $1 billion after 2011’s Skyfall.
Late last year, there were reports that acclaimed Hunger, Shame, 12 Years a Slave (which won Best Picture), Widows, and Blitz filmmaker Steve McQueen was being eyed to direct the next Bond film, although was before Amazon gained full creative control of the character.
Content shared from brobible.com.