I've been seeing more pushback than I would have expected, re: Villeneuve taking the reins. Not because he's disliked, but because, after the Craig era, a number of people were hoping/thinking the pendulum would swing a back a bit toward "fun" Bond. Not campy, but maybe a little more lively/winky/sexy, which Villeneuve most certainly is not. In fact, on the surface, he feels like he'll be delivering a continuation of the tone of the Craig era, if not even more serious/stoic. Personally, I'm totally fine with that, considering how incredible his movies are. But I do wonder if general audiences are, even subconsciously, expecting more of a change in tone than Villeneuve is capable of. Or, who knows, maybe he finds a completely new gear, and that's part of the fun/challenge for him.
Denis Villeneuve to direct next Bond film
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Last: 1 mo ago by Sapper Redux
veryfuller said:
What if Taylor Sheridan writes Bond?
I know he's firmly planted in modern westerns, so he probably isn't a fit. He also has like 500 projects going. But if you take his best instincts with Villanueve's polish... it could be something special.
That was the sicario team and it turned out pretty well
TCTTS said:
after the Craig era, a number of people were hoping/thinking the pendulum would swing a back a bit toward "fun" Bond. Not campy, but maybe a little more lively/winky/sexy, which Villeneuve most certainly is not. In fact, on the surface, he feels like he'll be delivering a continuation of the tone of the Craig era, if not even more serious/stoic. Personally, I'm totally fine with that, considering how incredible his movies are. But I do wonder if general audiences are, even subconsciously, expecting more of a change in tone that Villeneuve is capable of. Or, who knows, maybe he finds a completely new gear, and that's part of the fun/challenge for him.
I had this exact thought process - and I absolutely love Villenueve, and will gladly take him doing Bond (and prefer him over Nolan). But I definitely think this just sounds like a continuation of the Craig series, and I was pretty ready to put that to bed. I'd rather go to a more fun, gadget wielding, super charming Bond.
I think an awesome choice would've been Edgar Wright. He could've nailed the more fun, lively style, and 60's throwback flair if they wanted to do that. Kind of like Matthew Vaughn or Guy Ritchie - but I'd take him over those two at this point.
Also I still think its Aaron Taylor Johnson and that choice is so lame. I think Theo James would be great.
On one hand, Villeneuve is likely going to deliver the most epic, beautifully shot Bond movie of all time. And his villain - and his villain's lair - is probably going to be the coolest we've ever seen. I can already envision it. The whole thing is going to be incredible, bordering on aesthetic perfection, and will no doubt be cast impeccably, stuffed with all kinds of cool ideas.
And I'll eat up every second/frame of it.
But I'm with you in that I was kind of hoping for more fun this go around, Wright definitely would have delivered that in spades, and I'd be shocked to see Villeneuve try and tilt that direction.
Seeing as Amazon is no doubt setting up an entire Bond universe, I'm assuming that keeping it serious probably makes the most sense, as it's probably the easiest tone to keep consistent from film to TV, project to project.
And I'll eat up every second/frame of it.
But I'm with you in that I was kind of hoping for more fun this go around, Wright definitely would have delivered that in spades, and I'd be shocked to see Villeneuve try and tilt that direction.
Seeing as Amazon is no doubt setting up an entire Bond universe, I'm assuming that keeping it serious probably makes the most sense, as it's probably the easiest tone to keep consistent from film to TV, project to project.
Oh, and yeah, Theo James would have totally been my Bond pick in the Wright version. I don't quite know if he fits the Villeneuve aesthetic as well, but I'd be down to see.
From Matt Belloni's newsletter tonight...
Quote:
A one-and-done Bond deal for Denis: If you can't get Chris Nolan, Denis Villeneuve is about as great as Amazon MGM Studios could do for both the quality and commerciality of its first James Bond movie. The Oscar-nominated Dune and Arrival filmmaker is certainly the most acclaimed and visually stylish auteur to take on Bond since… all of them? Though Sam Mendes (American Beauty) is still the only Oscar-winning Bond filmmaker, both Lewis Gilbert (Alfie) and Marc Forster (Finding Neverland) had been nominated before they took on 007. Anyway, it's quite a statement by Amazon's Courtenay Valenti and producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal, as if to announce: We're not the Broccolis, we don't just want someone to boss around.
Still, the gig comes with limitations. Villeneuve won't get final cut, I'm told, and isn't attached to produce future Bond film and TV projects - though obviously that could change in success. Studios have really cut off the trough for directors/producers who make one movie based on big I.P. and then attach themselves to everything after that. These ground rules were laid out in advance of the final director meetings that I wrote about last week, so no big shock. Next up for Amazon: Picking a writer.
What’s Next for Denis Villeneuve's Bond Movie? Amazon's Wishlist Includes Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland and Harris Dickinson https://t.co/avXbLVE7iC
— Variety (@Variety) June 27, 2025
Who will play Denis Villeneuve's James Bond?
— Variety (@Variety) June 27, 2025
Insiders say Amazon is interested in casting a British actor under the age of 30, with Jacob Elordi (“Saltburn”), Tom Holland (“Spider-Man”) and Harris Dickinson (“Babygirl”) at the top of the casting wish list. Elordi is Australian,… pic.twitter.com/FuLydmm51l
Amazon was interested in having Christopher Nolan direct the next James Bond and was willing to grant him final cut. They ultimately chose Denis Villeneuve instead, who will not have final cut.
— Christopher Nolan Art & Updates (@NolanAnalyst) June 27, 2025
(via @Variety) pic.twitter.com/UgpOAyDOXM
Do we know of Amazon has a script in hand that either director would have to work from?
Or do they get to go find their own writers and tell their own stories?
Or do they get to go find their own writers and tell their own stories?
Thanks and gig'em
TCTTS said:
If I had to guess, I'd say this shoots around summer/fall 2027 and then releases fall/holiday 2028.
Maybe Thanksgiving 2028?
If so, that would mark 2028 as the beginning of both the new Bond franchise, and the Marvel Mutant Saga, with X-Men potentially releasing second half of 2028 as well.
Big year for new blockbuster franchises.
Amazon plans to release Denis Villeneuve’s James Bond film in 2028.
— Denis Villeneuve Universe (@DenisVfilms) June 27, 2025
(via @Variety) pic.twitter.com/81vd35W7vM
Aggie_Journalist said:
Do we know of Amazon has a script in hand that either director would have to work from?
Or do they get to go find their own writers and tell their own stories?
According to reports, Amazon and Villeneuve will choose a writer together. The writer will then write the first draft while Villeneuve shoots/is busy with Dune: Messiah. Then, when Villeneuve has more time (likely during Dune post production), he'll rewrite/do a final pass on the script himself, like he usually does with his projects.
Personally, happy Nolan isn't getting multiple years shaved off of his golden years to make Bond movies. Way too many other projects more in need of Nolan direction.
I lean towards wanting 007 movies stylized, fun, over-the-top. I mentally compartmentalize espionage thrillers that are meant to be heavier, more realistic, serious in tone. I love those as well, but I dont want or need Bond to be that. Just have a witty British guy with cool clothes and nice cars do some insane **** to defeat villains and manipulate some women in the process. Rinse/repeat. One of those done well every 3-4 years really doesn't get old, at least to me.
I lean towards wanting 007 movies stylized, fun, over-the-top. I mentally compartmentalize espionage thrillers that are meant to be heavier, more realistic, serious in tone. I love those as well, but I dont want or need Bond to be that. Just have a witty British guy with cool clothes and nice cars do some insane **** to defeat villains and manipulate some women in the process. Rinse/repeat. One of those done well every 3-4 years really doesn't get old, at least to me.
Not Tom Holland. Something about him is just really boring and generic to me. He is my least favorite Spider-Man by a mile.
Would agree with Theo James being a good choice.
Would agree with Theo James being a good choice.
This is what I'm hoping for.TCTTS said:
I've been seeing more pushback than I would have expected, re: Villeneuve taking the reins. Not because he's disliked, but because, after the Craig era, a number of people were hoping/thinking the pendulum would swing a back a bit toward "fun" Bond. Not campy, but maybe a little more lively/winky/sexy, which Villeneuve most certainly is not. In fact, on the surface, he feels like he'll be delivering a continuation of the tone of the Craig era, if not even more serious/stoic. Personally, I'm totally fine with that, considering how incredible his movies are. But I do wonder if general audiences are, even subconsciously, expecting more of a change in tone than Villeneuve is capable of. Or, who knows, maybe he finds a completely new gear, and that's part of the fun/challenge for him.
I know many wanted a "Henry Cavill in The Man From U.N.C.L.E." vibe for the next version of Bond, but I personally think that would have been a step back from where the Craig series took the character. To me it would have been like following up Nolan's Dark Knight series in The Batman with a Clooney version of Wayne/Batman.
Obviously the next actor is going to put his own spin on the character, but I like a more rugged Bond.
IMO we've had a serious Bond and it worked great, but I'm ready for a more old school Bond.
One last thing, while Denis will give his input, he does not have final say on who plays Bond. As it’s been reported, he doesn’t have Final Cut and is only on for one film so it would be wrong to think his top choice will be the automatic front runner to land the role https://t.co/C3L4Xa7cOV
— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) June 27, 2025
Seems odd to me Denis would've taken this gig.
Personally I think he is above this franchise, just like Nolan and Tarantino are, but to not even have full creative control should have made this a nonstarter for him.
Personally I think he is above this franchise, just like Nolan and Tarantino are, but to not even have full creative control should have made this a nonstarter for him.
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I don't know. He seems more adaptive than say Nolan and Tarantino. Like maybe his desire to make a bond movie outweighs his desire to have absolute control over the end product. Or he has confidence that his vision and the producers' are aligned.
I mean, no Bond filmmaker has had creative control so it's not like he is having to make it in a different way than anyone in the past. It's just with the clean slate and the excitement of big filmmakers that it even entered the conversation.
I mean, no Bond filmmaker has had creative control so it's not like he is having to make it in a different way than anyone in the past. It's just with the clean slate and the excitement of big filmmakers that it even entered the conversation.
I would think DV and the studio have communicated and are on the same page with how Amazon is wanting to start this. Which means DV has an idea of the kind of guy they're going to cast and what tone they're going for. He would have to be comfortable with both to take the gig and not have say on Final Cut.
No kidding. This is a terrible choice IMO. Forgive me for my irrational {whatever term it is to be against short people}, but Holland is 5'7. He's a midget.Madmarttigan said:
Not Tom Holland. Something about him is just really boring and generic to me. He is my least favorite Spider-Man by a mile.
Would agree with Theo James being a good choice.
Craig was the shortest Bond at 5'10 and we are going to go 3 inches shorter?
Yea Holland does not fit Bond, at all
At the time Craig was a head scratcher and turned out to be great.
I'm less optimistic for Holland. He's not Bond. I'm sure he will get a call and agents will do their thing, but I'd be shocked if he were cast. He's too famous.
I'm less optimistic for Holland. He's not Bond. I'm sure he will get a call and agents will do their thing, but I'd be shocked if he were cast. He's too famous.
I don't care who directs the next Bond as long as it isn't woke and they keep him white.
surfandturfsbisa96 said:
I don't care who directs the next Bond as long as it isn't woke and they keep him white.
Not even trying to hide anymore eh
I think Bond could be any race, but he does need a certain level of smooth/suave to BE Bond.
ANd you also need to beleive he would basically do whatever it takes for the mission, whether its killing, sleeping with whoever.
So Idris Elba could have been a great bond, but Michael B Jordan could not.
I dont think any of the 3 people in that tweet earlier would be good Bonds, and neither would someone like Tom Hardy.
ANd you also need to beleive he would basically do whatever it takes for the mission, whether its killing, sleeping with whoever.
So Idris Elba could have been a great bond, but Michael B Jordan could not.
I dont think any of the 3 people in that tweet earlier would be good Bonds, and neither would someone like Tom Hardy.
Yeah if someone tries to tell me Idris Elba couldn't be Bond in his prime because he isn't white, I would say they are a moron. He would have been perfect as well when he was younger. I think I have more of a requirement they are from the UK than anything.
It kind of the same with HP and almost feels a little weird that Lithgow is the new dumbledore as an American actor.
It kind of the same with HP and almost feels a little weird that Lithgow is the new dumbledore as an American actor.
I don't think race matters for Bond unless it took place in the 60s or earlier. Just because he's always been white doesn't mean he always needs to be white.
surfandturfsbisa96 said:
I don't care who directs the next Bond as long as it isn't woke and they keep him white.
As long as its not a Ginger.
Madmarttigan said:
Yeah if someone tries to tell me Idris Elba couldn't be Bond in his prime because he isn't white, I would say they are a moron. He would have been perfect as well when he was younger. I think I have more of a requirement they are from the UK than anything.
It kind of the same with HP and almost feels a little weird that Lithgow is the new dumbledore as an American actor.
Was pretty odd he played Winston Churchill. A 6'4 American playing a 5'6 Brit is nonsensical.
I think whoever plays Bond first and foremost should be from the UK. I don't care Lazenby played him once, an Aussie shouldn't be Bond. I think more-so than any other character in film, that should be the rule.
I do think Bond should be white, although I agree Idris Elba would've been great and I wouldn't have had a problem with that, because everything about him is Bond. He just has the x-factors that make up Bond... I've seen multiple reports about Daniel Kaluuya and John Boyega taking on the role, which would be a joke.
Those three actors short-listed good lord... I like all those guys respectively (love Tom Holland), and think they're all very good actors. But Bond is an alpha... those guys, look like twinks.
I do think Bond should be white, although I agree Idris Elba would've been great and I wouldn't have had a problem with that, because everything about him is Bond. He just has the x-factors that make up Bond... I've seen multiple reports about Daniel Kaluuya and John Boyega taking on the role, which would be a joke.
Those three actors short-listed good lord... I like all those guys respectively (love Tom Holland), and think they're all very good actors. But Bond is an alpha... those guys, look like twinks.
Of the three names Variety reported (which are no doubt part of a longer list), Harris Dickinson is the only one I'd consider. I think he could at least pull off a somewhat more muted, fresh-faced Bond. But while Elordi and Holland have their strengths, playing Bond is not one of them. They both get a big hell no from me.
As for the rest of the potentials, here's the current top 10/betting odds (as mentioned on The Big Picture Podcast today)...
01. - 11/8 - Aaron Taylor-Johnson
02. - 07/2 - Theo James
03. - 04/1 - Scott Rose-Marsh
04. - 05/1 - Aaron Pierre
05. - 08/1 - Henry Cavill
06. - 12/1 - James Norton
07. - 12/1 - Jack Lowden
08. - 16/1 - Harris Dickinson
09. - 16/1 - Callum Turner
10. - 16/1 - Sam C. Wilson
And then other names potentially in the mix...
- Jonathan Bailey
- Kingsley Ben-Adir
- Jacob Elordi
- Patrick Gibson
- Henry Golding
- Tom Holland
- Damson Idris
- David Jonsson
- Daniel Kaluuya
- Richard Madden
- Paul Mescal
- Josh O'Conner
- Rege-Jean Page
- Stuart Martin
- Leo Woodall
As for the rest of the potentials, here's the current top 10/betting odds (as mentioned on The Big Picture Podcast today)...
01. - 11/8 - Aaron Taylor-Johnson
02. - 07/2 - Theo James
03. - 04/1 - Scott Rose-Marsh
04. - 05/1 - Aaron Pierre
05. - 08/1 - Henry Cavill
06. - 12/1 - James Norton
07. - 12/1 - Jack Lowden
08. - 16/1 - Harris Dickinson
09. - 16/1 - Callum Turner
10. - 16/1 - Sam C. Wilson
And then other names potentially in the mix...
- Jonathan Bailey
- Kingsley Ben-Adir
- Jacob Elordi
- Patrick Gibson
- Henry Golding
- Tom Holland
- Damson Idris
- David Jonsson
- Daniel Kaluuya
- Richard Madden
- Paul Mescal
- Josh O'Conner
- Rege-Jean Page
- Stuart Martin
- Leo Woodall
All of that said, they almost assuredly won't be casting the role until well into next year, and so much could change by then. New names could emerge, current front-runners could fall off. Who knows where it all ends up.
This may seem silly, but I legit think this news from a few weeks ago is a pretty big indicator why its Aaron Taylor Johnson
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/stories/aaron-taylor-johnson-joins-omega-as-a-brand-ambassador
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/stories/aaron-taylor-johnson-joins-omega-as-a-brand-ambassador
Nah, I just don't like race-swapping characters. Create a new character if you want to make him a different race. But they don't, they want to profit off the back of a pre-equisting commodity. I'd go see Idris Elba as 006.Madmarttigan said:surfandturfsbisa96 said:
I don't care who directs the next Bond as long as it isn't woke and they keep him white.
Not even trying to hide anymore eh
Sex Panther said:
This may seem silly, but I legit think this news from a few weeks ago is a pretty big indicator why its Aaron Taylor Johnson
https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/stories/aaron-taylor-johnson-joins-omega-as-a-brand-ambassador
That deal was likely brokered and done before the Broccolis sold the character/franchise. Amazon is fully in charge now and any previous considerations or talks have gone back to square one. I'm not saying it won't end up being Taylor-Johnson, but any talks that may have already happened were between him and the old regime.
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