Between 'Dune' and 'Interstellar': The New Bond Will Be Craig's Complete Opposite in Every Sense — and Not Everyone Will Appreciate It
Fans of the series will clearly be divided into two fronts.
Rest in peace, Craig's James Bond — quite literally. After the finale of No Time to Die, where 007 took on a global threat one last time (and went out gracefully, but finally), the franchise was left in limbo. It was only a matter of time before a reboot was planned — and it looks like that time has come.
Amazon, which now owns MGM and the Bond rights, has taken the project seriously. According to Movie Web, the studio has a shortlist of five contenders for the director's seat. And what's most interesting is that judging by the names, we are in for a radically new Bond.
The list includes heavyweights like Denis Villeneuve (Dune) and Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) — those who are capable of continuing the dark and realistic line started by Daniel Craig. But next to them is Paul King, the author of Paddington and Wonka, and Edgar Wright, the same one who directed Baby Driver. This is already a bid for lightness, style and irony — everything that the post-Craig era so lacked.
The very fact that the studio is considering Jonathan Nolan, and not his brother Christopher, also suggests that there will be less seriousness and more creative risks. Jonathan is a master of building complex worlds (Westworld, Fallout), but with an eye on a wider audience.
As for Bond himself, everything points to a young and charismatic hero with a sense of humor, perhaps closer to Pierce Brosnan or even Roger Moore than to Craig's stoic loner. Among the contenders for the role are Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Jack Lowden and, where would we be without him, Henry Cavill.
There is no official announcement yet, but the trend is clear: Bond will be different. Not gloomy, but daring. Not gray-haired, but just starting out. There is only one question — will he be able to become a legend again?
