Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo have weighed in on the possibility of helming the next James Bond movie. Creative control of the long-running 007 franchise recently fell into the hands of Amazon MGM studios after producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson announced their departure, despite officially remaining co-owners of the property. With the Bond franchise now set to enter a new era, questions remain about who will be responsible for shaping the first 007 film under Amazon MGM’s control.
During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Russo brothers were asked about their own potential interest in the project, given their involvement in Prime Video’s Citadel franchise. Admitting that while the brothers love the 007 franchise and working with Amazon, their focus remains on directing the next two Avengers movies, with several other projects also lined up directly afterwards. Check out Joe Russo’s response below:
We’re focused on the next two Avengers movies. But we love Bond. We love working with Amazon. We’ve got a number of projects at AGBO that we’re developing for us to direct right after the Avengers films.
What The Russo Brothers’ Comments Mean For Bond 26
The Next Bond Director Will Be As Important As The Choice Of Star
At this stage, very little is known about the direction that Amazon MGM studios will take the Bond franchise now that they have full creative control over the property. While there is already considerable speculation about possible 007 spinoff projects, it will still be the decisions behind Bond 26 that determine the IP’s chances of success under its latest steward. Even though a great deal of attention is currently being given to which actor will be selected to succeed Daniel Craig as the new lead, the studio’s choice of director will also have a major impact.
Given the Russo brothers’ comments, it seems unlikely that they will end up being responsible for helming the next Bond movie, despite their familiarity with both major franchises and their own Citadel spy universe. Moreover, a long list of potential contenders has already been floated by various publications and commentators, including names such as Oppenheimer’s Christopher Nolan and 12 Years A Slave’s Steve McQueen.
Our Take On Who Should Helm Bond 26
Amazon May Choose To Play Things Safe
Regardless of whoever is selected as both the director and leading star in Bond 26, fans will be closely looking for possible signs that the franchise may begin to deviate from its rich history. The James Bond franchise is one which is heavily influenced by tradition, and previous attempts at moving away from the property’s established tropes have not been met with much enthusiasm. As such, Amazon MGM may ultimately attempt to play things safe by ensuring its next entry fits seamlessly within the established canon rather than seeking a more radical reinvention of the franchise.
With this in mind, perhaps one of the most suitable candidates would be to return to the same director who also launched the last two iterations of Bond. Responsible for introducing audiences to both Pierce Brosnan’s and Craig’s Bonds, Martin Campbell is also regularly touted as an ideal choice to helm the next movie. Given his proven track record in launching new 007 actors, he would likely be a safe choice. As much as the Russo brothers may have been an interesting choice, given their experiences with Citadel, it seems unlikely that they will be selected for Bond 26.
Source: THR