A new update on James Bond 26 has revealed multiple big-name directors in the mix for the next 007 movie, which will be the first produced under Amazon MGM. The journey of Bond 26‘s development has been a tumultuous one, eventually leading to longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson giving full creative control to Amazon. The franchise, which has made well over $7 billion at the box office across 25 movies, is a huge piece for them, and four years after No Time To Die‘s ending, things finally look to be moving forward.

According to Puck‘s Matthew Belloni, in response to a question about who will direct Bond 26, there are five names in the mix who have pitched or will pitch their take on 007. Most notably, the list includes Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve, alongside Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Jonathan Nolan, and Paul King. Meanwhile, Alfonso Cuarón, who had previously been discussed as a frontrunner, has dropped out of the race. As Puck reports:

“The meetings are happening right now, actually. In the nearly three months since I first reported that David Heyman and Amy Pascal would be the lead Bond producers, the duo has set get-togethers with several filmmakers vying to make that all-important first film of the post-Broccoli era. Edward Berger (Conclave, All Quiet on the Western Front) has already pitched, per two sources familiar. Denis Villeneuve (Dune, Arrival) is set to offer his take, as are Certified British People Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, and this fall’s The Running Man); Jonathan Nolan (TV’s Westworld and Fallout); and Paul King (Paddington, Wonka), who has a long relationship with Heyman. Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Harry Potter 3), who also has a strong Heyman relationship and has talked about making a Bond film, recently took himself out of consideration, per these same sources.”

The report also includes an update on the timeline of Bond 26‘s development and production, with plans to have a director in place, before moving on to scripting and casting. It’s already been four years since the latest installment, but things should be gathering pace soon:

“The new Amazon brain trust—Heyman, Pascal, and top executives Mike Hopkins and Courtenay Valenti—plan to set the director this summer, then get the script written, then cast the next Bond. Though obviously the filmmakers’ thoughts on 007, and who might play him, will come up in the meetings—most of which are taking place at Heyman’s house in London.”

What This Means For James Bond 26

The Next Movie May Finally Be Making Real Progress

After several years without much forward movement, and the major shakeup of creative control leaving the Broccoli family after over 60 years, the news is an encouraging step for James Bond 26. Most of the names mentioned would be fairly considered as safe, yet exciting: filmmakers who have proven they can work on big studio projects, deliver great movies and major hits, and yet all put their own stamp on things.

This would also suggest that, while Amazon MGM now has creative control, the vision will be one shepherded by whomever lands the gig, with the director set to be in place before a script is written. There has also long been talk over whom the next James Bond will be, with actors such as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, and Henry Cavill perennially linked. It would seem as though any such casting decision remains some way off, which should mean the project can be better tailored to the actor the eventual director lands on.

In terms of the timeline for when Bond 26 could be released, this does help give a clearer indication. If the director is indeed in place within the next couple of months, then the movie should be well-placed to begin shooting sometime in 2026. That would allow for a release year of 2027 or 2028 to be a fair target, ensuring the next movie isn’t too far away, and finally beginning the Amazon era for Bond.

Our Take On James Bond 26’s Director Shortlist

The Names In The Mix Are Exciting For 007’s Future

While I’m sure many will wish there was a different Nolan named on that shortlist, it’s an interesting and exciting bunch of names. Villeneuve would be a Bond dream-come-true; the director is one of the greatest blockbuster filmmakers of his generation, and has been on an incredible run over the last decade. Berger, meanwhile, has seen his two most recent movies as a director both nominated for Best Picture.

Edgar Wright and Jonathan Nolan are the kind of British names you’d expect to be linked to the franchise. Wright’s best movies are a little smaller in scope, but he’s proven he can go bigger. Jonathan Nolan hasn’t directed a feature himself, but has a strong track record on TV, and has worked on many of his brother Christopher’s projects, including co-writing things like The Dark Knight and Interstellar.

Paul King is a slightly less than expected pick, but delivered a studio hit with Wonka, and made two pretty-much-perfect Paddington movies. It’s a shame that Cuarón is no longer involved, as he proved with Harry Potter he could elevate an iconic British franchise. But on the whole, while the future of James Bond 26 has long been uncertain, this is an update that should leave people’s hopes stirred, rather than their faith shaken.

Source: Puck