Christopher Nolan takes his name out of the running to direct next Bond film

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Whenever a new James Bond film begins to materialize, there's one director whose name is almost always brought up when people begin discussing who should direct it, and that's Christopher Nolan. Although Daniel Craig will once again be returning for another James Bond installment, Sam Mendes will not be back after helming both SKYFALL and SPECTRE, leaving the director's chair open, but Christopher Nolan won't be the man to do it. During an interview with BBC Radio 4, Nolan took him name out of the running for the next Bond flick.

I won’t be the man. No, categorically. I think every time they hire a new director I’m rumored to be doing it.

Despite declining the hypothetical gig, Christopher Nolan said he would "love to make a Bond film at some point," adding that producers [Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli] do a "tremendous job and Sam Mendes has done a terrific job the last couple of films, so they don’t particularly need me. But I’ve always been very inspired by the films and would love to do one someday." I'd imagine that when Nolan does decide that he'd be the man for the job, he'd need only pick up the phone and the job would be his.

One person who we're sure would be over the moon should that day arrive is Tom Hardy, who has previously gushed over the thought of Christopher Nolan lending his touch to the twenty-fifth Bond movie.

Oh wow, Chris would be amazing!… What a fantastic director for a Bond movie. And because Daniel [Craig] is so good, and what [Sam] Mendes and Barbara [Broccoli] have done has been so impressive, that it would be a very hard reimagination to follow after. I wonder what the next installment of that franchise would become, and I think when you mention someone like Christopher Nolan, that’s a very powerful figure to bring into that world who could bring something new and create something profound — again.

The next James Bond film is currently set for a November 8, 2019 release.