Front-runners for Bond 25 director touted by the trade press
26-Jul-2017 • No Time To Die
The front-runner to direct Bond 25 is Frenchman Yann Demange, according to the trade paper Variety. Demange directed several popular TV series including 'Secret Diary of a Call Girl', 'Dead Set' and 'Criminal Justice' before landing his first feature film '71' in 2014. His second big screen credit is the yet-to-be-released 'White Boy Rick'.
If Demange lands the job to helm 007 in his twenty-fifth outing, he would be amongst other obscure picks by EON to headline such a big budget film with limited action experience such as Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough), Lee Tamahori (Die Another Day) and Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace). It would also signal that Daniel Craig is definitely back for a fifth outing, as it is unlikely such a novice feature director would be given the responsibility of also launching a new actor in the role.
Elsewhere in the trades, Deadline reports that Demange is just one of three contenders for the gig, with the other two names being Canadian Denis Villenueve and Scottish director David Mackenzie. Villeneuve directed last year's 'Arrival' and is just about to release 'Blade Runner 2049' (with cinematography by Roger Deakins - who also did 'Skyfall'),' whilst Mackenzie most recently helmed one of last year's Best Picture nominees 'Hell or High Water.'
Deadline claims all three have had meetings with EON about Bond 25. Villenueve is reportedly attached to the big screen reboot of 'Dune,' and Mackenzie is reported to be directing 'Outlaw King' for Netflix. Whilst Villeneuve or Mackenzie would be considered safer bets to helm such a big project, Demange may be the one available.
