What Directors Should Helm A Bond Film?

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  • Posts: 133
    I am fully prepared to mostly ignore Bond 26 if a director who is not to my liking is chosen to direct.
    That may also be the case for me. I'm a huge Bond fan, but I've been disappointed with the series for some time now. I'm afraid that won't change with the next era, especially if rumors that they would like Villeneuve to direct Bond 26 are to be believed.
    Of course, there's a nice selection of old Bond films for me to enjoy, but it's still kinda sad that I currently can't really look forward to a new Bond film anymore.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,151
    I am fully prepared to mostly ignore Bond 26 if a director who is not to my liking is chosen to direct.

    I understand that but I'd still give the film a try, at the very least. I remember heavily disliking that Roger Spottiswoode was chosen for TND, mainly because I loath Turner & Hooch. But I was thrilled to see TND and though it was not GE 2, I rather liked the film. It's grown on me since, unlike Spottiswoode.

    I think we tend to overplay the importance of a director in Bond films. Sure, the director is the "big man" and all, but Bond films are a collaborative effort, and what a director lacks, others seem capable of compensating most of the time. So while I agree that a director can make one less enthusiastic, I'm not sure we should always fear the worst for the final Bond film.
  • SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
    Posts: 1,980
    peter wrote: »
    Suspicion increases among Bond fans when a director who loves Bond names a project "Secret". I would be surprised if that isn't Bond 26.

    @SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ , this “secret project” on the free IMDb has been identified on IMDbpro— it’s the book that was optioned last Friday. It’s not Bond.

    But, this project is to be shot AFTER D 3: Messiah… go back a page or so. It was discussed yesterday.

    Oh, is that right @peter? Ok. thanks for making the blurry more lucid.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    peter wrote: »
    Suspicion increases among Bond fans when a director who loves Bond names a project "Secret". I would be surprised if that isn't Bond 26.

    @SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ , this “secret project” on the free IMDb has been identified on IMDbpro— it’s the book that was optioned last Friday. It’s not Bond.

    But, this project is to be shot AFTER D 3: Messiah… go back a page or so. It was discussed yesterday.

    Oh, is that right @peter? Ok. thanks for making the blurry more lucid.

    👍 No problem, @SecretAgentMan⁰⁰⁷ !
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,384
    Kojak007 wrote: »
    I am fully prepared to mostly ignore Bond 26 if a director who is not to my liking is chosen to direct.
    That may also be the case for me. I'm a huge Bond fan, but I've been disappointed with the series for some time now. I'm afraid that won't change with the next era, especially if rumors that they would like Villeneuve to direct Bond 26 are to be believed.
    Of course, there's a nice selection of old Bond films for me to enjoy, but it's still kinda sad that I currently can't really look forward to a new Bond film anymore.

    Giving my 2 cents, neither Chris nor Denis are my picks. I would stick with the franchise in the hopes that we move, even incrementally, closer to a larger than life classic bond film that fully embraces escapism again and makes no apologises for it.

    If Bond 26 turns out no different, even without Craig, and then they pick another dramatist to helm Bond 27, I would probably leave the fandom. I only really have passion for that side of things, and if we're never visiting it again, then I don't see the point in carrying on. Bond has always been about fantasy escapism for me, when the films know they are patently absurd, and they take themselves just seriously enough that there's still some tension come the climax.

    I think the Craig films tried to exist outside the usual Bond framework, and were successful with it for a while, and it brought some originality, but I can't help but feel like ever since 2012 that there just isn't a real creativity or spark anymore. They seem out of ideas, and to compensate they come up with things Bond hasn't done before, like finding out he had a half brother, or a daughter or whatever. But part of the beauty of the old films is that Bond doesn't NEED that dimension to him. He is already driven by his sense of duty, inspite of what it might cost him in the long run. It was what allowed those films to be so engaging and streamlined and to sweep the audience along for an entertaining couple of hours.

    I'm obviously going to give the new era a chance, and even if the next film is more of the same, I'll see which direction they look to be going with Bond 27, but honestly if nothing changes I can see myself losing interest eventually. If what I enjoy about the series doesn't exist anymore, then the magic is gone.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,125
    I've just watched in the last couple of days, The Incredibles and followed it up with The Incredibles 2.
    Having also directed the very good, and I believe widely enjoyed, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, I'm going to suggest, Brad Bird as a possible director of Bond 26.
    He's got a couple of things in the pipeline, but that's not too say he might not be available.
  • MaxCasinoMaxCasino United States
    Posts: 4,591
    Benny wrote: »
    I've just watched in the last couple of days, The Incredibles and followed it up with The Incredibles 2.
    Having also directed the very good, and I believe widely enjoyed, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, I'm going to suggest, Brad Bird as a possible director of Bond 26.
    He's got a couple of things in the pipeline, but that's not too say he might not be available.

    Yes, I support him as director. He almost directed The Force Awakens. I would take Brad Bird as a director for both. I still hope he can have a say in a possible Incredibles 3 though..
  • Posts: 2,157
    Benny wrote: »
    I've just watched in the last couple of days, The Incredibles and followed it up with The Incredibles 2.
    Having also directed the very good, and I believe widely enjoyed, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, I'm going to suggest, Brad Bird as a possible director of Bond 26.
    He's got a couple of things in the pipeline, but that's not too say he might not be available.

    I'd be happy with Bird. Incredibles 1 still holds up as an amazing superhero movie, with some killer action sequences, a great plot, great character work, and an amazing soundtrack. Incredibles 2 not so much, it has a great first hour but the third act is quite weak (though Bird did have a year of production removed, so I cant entirely blame him for it). Ghost Protocol is one of the best MI movies too, it has a great mix of action, intrigue and humour, and that could work well for Bond.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,125
    MI: GP was for me the first MI film that got all the team elements right. 1-3 are still good, but I think with 4 all the pieces came together.
    I think Brad Bird could bring in a solid Bond film, for a debut actor.
    Whether he's on EON's checklist for a director is another story.
  • M_BaljeM_Balje Amsterdam, Netherlands
    edited April 10 Posts: 4,507
    Christopher Nolan as directer means no cinema.. To protect my ears and heart. I almoost missing Casino Royale in cinema's and something already be to heavy.

    Second United Directer/Special Effects Bond family member Chris Corbould working on TDK/TDKR too and together with Soundmixer and composer the biggest problem. Whyle for biggest part Hans Zimmer suprise me a positieve way with NTTD. I was more disapointed in Thomas Newman.

    In other words, not my cup of thea... for in the cinema.

    No-Time-to-Die-1421.jpg
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited April 10 Posts: 8,384
    Benny wrote: »
    I've just watched in the last couple of days, The Incredibles and followed it up with The Incredibles 2.
    Having also directed the very good, and I believe widely enjoyed, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, I'm going to suggest, Brad Bird as a possible director of Bond 26.
    He's got a couple of things in the pipeline, but that's not too say he might not be available.

    Now that is a good suggestion @Benny. The Incredibles is one of my favourite pixar entries, and Ghost Protocol is Mission Impossible at its slickest.
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,194
    I am a huge Brad Bird fan and would be very happy if he were to direct a Bond; hopefully he would bring along Michael Giacchino to do the score.
  • edited April 10 Posts: 1,306
    Benny wrote: »
    I've just watched in the last couple of days, The Incredibles and followed it up with The Incredibles 2.
    Having also directed the very good, and I believe widely enjoyed, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, I'm going to suggest, Brad Bird as a possible director of Bond 26.
    He's got a couple of things in the pipeline, but that's not too say he might not be available.

    It's too late IMO. Ghost Protocol was released before Skyfall!
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,125
    Nobody but a fan
    Benny wrote: »
    I've just watched in the last couple of days, The Incredibles and followed it up with The Incredibles 2.
    Having also directed the very good, and I believe widely enjoyed, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, I'm going to suggest, Brad Bird as a possible director of Bond 26.
    He's got a couple of things in the pipeline, but that's not too say he might not be available.

    It's too late IMO. Ghost Protocol was released before Skyfall!

    And that means what?
  • talos7talos7 New Orleans
    Posts: 8,194
    Benny wrote: »
    Nobody but a fan
    Benny wrote: »
    I've just watched in the last couple of days, The Incredibles and followed it up with The Incredibles 2.
    Having also directed the very good, and I believe widely enjoyed, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, I'm going to suggest, Brad Bird as a possible director of Bond 26.
    He's got a couple of things in the pipeline, but that's not too say he might not be available.

    It's too late IMO. Ghost Protocol was released before Skyfall!

    And that means what?

    Well he is 66, way over the hill. 😏
  • edited April 10 Posts: 1,306
    Benny wrote: »
    Nobody but a fan
    Benny wrote: »
    I've just watched in the last couple of days, The Incredibles and followed it up with The Incredibles 2.
    Having also directed the very good, and I believe widely enjoyed, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol, I'm going to suggest, Brad Bird as a possible director of Bond 26.
    He's got a couple of things in the pipeline, but that's not too say he might not be available.

    It's too late IMO. Ghost Protocol was released before Skyfall!

    And that means what?

    Sorry, I have corrected the post.

    I mean, he would have been a good choice 10-12 years ago IMO.

    It doesn't seem like a fresh approach.
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,125
    You're kidding right?
    What does Bird's age have to do with it? He's only mid to late 60's, it's his achievements and style that I like. That's what makes me think he'd be a good fit for a Bond film.
  • Informe_James_BondInforme_James_Bond Dominican Republic
    Posts: 111
    talos7 wrote: »
    But this does not include the mystery project that must see the light of day quickly, correct?

    Yes, if it includes the mystery project. What happens is that on IMDB it's as "Villeneuve's Secret Proyect" but on IMDB Pro it has its title "Nuclear War: A Scenario".

    ;)

  • edited April 10 Posts: 133
    Bird would be a fantastic choice. Not only would he most likely bring back more humor and a little lightness after the mostly serious Craig era, I think he could be able to balance all the important "ingredients" (action, thrill, humor, gadgets) well.
    But based on the Villeneuve rumor, the producers seem to want to go in a completely different direction, and perhaps try to make the next era even more darker and serious.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,956
    I also echo the excitement I'd have if someone like Bird was directing, especially when it comes to the action.

    Him having worked on a rival series before is entirely irrelevant to me. Coincidentally enough, it's the very same installment that had a henchwoman who would become one of the most integral female characters in the Craig era anyway, so why not?
  • Posts: 2,157
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    I also echo the excitement I'd have if someone like Bird was directing, especially when it comes to the action.

    Him having worked on a rival series before is entirely irrelevant to me. Coincidentally enough, it's the very same installment that had a henchwoman who would become one of the most integral female characters in the Craig era anyway, so why not?

    The whole viewpoint of "an actor has been in X so they cant be in Bond" is pretty silly to me. Even as far back as the 60's and some of the original cast, they were constantly crossing over into other spy series. Even within Bond, actors in NSNA popped up in future Bond films.
  • Posts: 577
    Guy, have you seen the trailer of Joker 2? That is the kind of boldness I expect from Bond 26! It really needs to be bold and different. And the easiest way to achieve that is to hire a visionary director with a clear vision. Someone who knows *exactly* what to do with Bond at this point in time.
  • edited April 10 Posts: 4,078
    Guy, have you seen the trailer of Joker 2? That is the kind of boldness I expect from Bond 26! It really needs to be bold and different. And the easiest way to achieve that is to hire a visionary director with a clear vision. Someone who knows *exactly* what to do with Bond at this point in time.

    Yes, Todd Phillips, that director who, prior to Joker, directed such visionary films as The Hangover movies, Due Date, Road Trip and that remake of Starsky and Hutch...

    Not knocking Phillips by the way. I actually like all of those movies. But it does show you the potential such a director with such a prior filmography can have.
  • Posts: 577
    007HallY wrote: »
    But it does show you the potential such a director with such a prior filmography can have.

    Sure, miracles do happen. Todd Philip directing a movie as great as Joker was one. But don't tell me a director with a proven track record isn't far more likely to deliver a visionary film than someone who never made a visionary film before.
  • Posts: 348
    Surely the utter mediocrity of Joker is a bad sign.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited April 10 Posts: 8,384
    Guy, have you seen the trailer of Joker 2? That is the kind of boldness I expect from Bond 26! It really needs to be bold and different. And the easiest way to achieve that is to hire a visionary director with a clear vision. Someone who knows *exactly* what to do with Bond at this point in time.

    When you get someone with the right sensibilities for the material. B-)
  • edited April 10 Posts: 4,078
    007HallY wrote: »
    But it does show you the potential such a director with such a prior filmography can have.

    Sure, miracles do happen. Todd Philip directing a movie as great as Joker was one. But don't tell me a director with a proven track record isn't far more likely to deliver a visionary film than someone who never made a visionary film before.

    It's not a miracle at all. It's the accumulation of many years of experience - making films, telling stories visually (even rather low brow comedies), working with actors/writers/other departments, and basically honing the craft of directing. Even Hitchcock took many, many years before he became the 'Master of Suspense' we know him as. Your man Nolan spent years making corporate training videos (which from experience editing such videos are rather depressing things to work on, and certainly not visionary) and made at least two very questionable student short films. Phillips and others like him just worked on more mainstream/higher profile stuff earlier on in their careers (and honestly, he did it quite well) and slowly drifted into making other types of films which could be considered 'visionary'.

    I don't know what any director will give us when it comes to Bond. As I've said it's not always something we know, much like how we don't truly know how a specific actor could play this role. We could get something very special from a lesser known director.

    Someone who I think could potentially have a second life as a filmmaker is Mark Mylod. He did The Menu recently, but his credits before that was made up of early 2000s comedy films, none of which seem very well received (including Ali G Indahouse, which even I don't like). Apart from that he did a lot of comedy for television too. Later on he did work for higher end tv shows such as Game of Thrones and Succession, and after that we get The Menu from him. I can imagine someone like that potentially doing a very good Bond movie (but again, I can't know for sure).
    M_Blaise wrote: »
    Surely the utter mediocrity of Joker is a bad sign.

    Yes, I'm not a huge fan of Joker either to be honest. But the new film looks interesting.
  • Posts: 558
    Guy, have you seen the trailer of Joker 2? That is the kind of boldness I expect from Bond 26! It really needs to be bold and different. And the easiest way to achieve that is to hire a visionary director with a clear vision. Someone who knows *exactly* what to do with Bond at this point in time.

    I know exactly what you are saying. They need to make Bond 26 a musical.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,752
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  • Posts: 558
    200w.gif?cid=6c09b952mjk4ewu4l0r1qpc6znlpht2fpdmgz5pu5q6kwbzp&ep=v1_gifs_search&rid=200w.gif&ct=g

    Jokes aside: I've long had an idea for a soft/loose re-adaptation of "The Living Daylights" only instead of an orchestra the woman is a singer who got caught in some conspiracy, and some songs are performed diegetically (think: "Cabaret") in the film by the woman.

    Now Bond singing would be a whole different ballgame...
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