A new report forBond 26reveals some details about the directing deal, and it may explain why Christopher Nolan wasn’t selected. After a four-year-long hiatus sinceNo Time to Die, a new era of the Bond franchise, especially under Amazon,has found its director in Denis Villeneuve.
Before the announcement, many directors were considered favorites, including Nolan. The Oscar-winning director has been a notable choice for a while, although the likelihood seemed thin.
Now,Puckhas broken down new details about Villeneuve’s contrast, indicating limitations on his involvement with the Bond franchise.The director won’t get the final cut and won’t be considered a producerfor subsequent Bond movies and TV series. He is also only signed on for one movie, but that could change if the installment is successful.
Despite being the first film in what is expected to be a large Bond franchise, Villeneuve’s Bond movie will likely be subject to some studio interference. Rather than havingcarte blancheto make whatever he wishes,Villeneuve will have to work within the confines of the studio,building something more collaborative and sustainable with the franchise.
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The new details suggest thatstudio involvement will be significant even after Barbara Broccolihas left the franchise.Many believed that Nolan not taking a Bond film in the past was due to significant studio oversight.While the Broccolis are no longer a part of the creative direction, it seems Amazon is following their example.
Nolan is a huge filmmaker and has a great deal of clout that he can leverage for control over virtually any studio. After the incredible success ofOppenheimer,he became one of the few filmmakers who could get creative control, including the final cut.While it’s unclear whether Nolan was approached, it wouldn’t be surprising that creative limitations would be a dealbreaker for not accepting the job.
The report also indicated that the next stage would be finding the writer, especially since Villeneuve will likely be invested inDune 3. It also likely means that the director would be involved withthe Bond casting process, similar to how Martin Campbell was involved with Daniel Craig’s. However, casting will happen once the script has been completed.
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This Restriction Could Be Good For The Bond Series Overall
While this creative restriction will be a tough detail for any filmmaker,it is actually good for the franchise.Longer series likeStar Warshave suffered in their sequel trilogy, partially due to the lack of a cohesive vision. Other series, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, have had a guiding hand in Kevin Feige, ensuring connectivity between visions.
Incorporating levels of studio oversight is the necessary way forward for franchise filmmaking.Peter Safran and James Gunn are shepherding the DC Universe, and Chad Stahelski, Basil Iwanyk, and Erica Lee have oversight in theJohn Wickseries. While this environment is less filmmaker-friendly, it appears to be the path forward for these major franchises.
Studio oversight is not a bad thing, and if done right, it can help to make a unique vision into something even stronger. While these inhibiting contract details concerning the final cut likely led to Nolan passing onBond 26, Villeneuve is ready to work within those confines. Hopefully, something great comes out of it.
