Nolan says he would direct a Bond movie if series needed “reinvention”

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

For some time now the fate of James Bond has been on the edge of the cliff, with no word yet on if Daniel Craig will return, with discussion of franchise rights all over the place. Fans are still holding on for the announcement that the next Bond adventure is coming, and one element that’s keeping buzz going is director Christopher Nolan expressing his interest in taking on the classic character. Though the odds of him doing it are slim, he’s spoken up about what it would take to get him into the director’s chair.

Speaking with Playboy (as seen in a screen grab from the digital issue, which was posted on Imgur) to promote his new movie, DUNKIRK, Nolan talked about how even though he would love to direct the British spy in an new film, taking the job would mean the series needed to go in a new direction, something he doesn’t think is necessary right now:

A Bond movie, definitely. I’ve spoken to the producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson over the years. I deeply love the character, and I’m always excited to see what they do with it. Maybe one day that would work out. You’d have to be needed, if you know what I mean. It has to need reinvention; it has to need you. And they’re getting along very well.

The recent run of Bond movies are getting along very well indeed. 2012’s SKYFALL managed to rake in $1.1 billion at the global box office, and the most recent film – SPECTRE– made almost $900 million, despite middling reviews. Even though the money is there Craig has yet to come out and say if he’ll return to the franchise, and no word has yet been dropped as to the next movie’s production start. This has left room for speculation that Bond will be recast, with names like Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston and Tom Hardy thrown about.

However, a recent report from The Mirror states that Craig has indeed signed on for BOND 25, and that the producers are hoping to get Adele back for another song (she won an Oscar for doing the song for SKYFALL). It should be noted though that is pure rumor at this point, and neither Craig nor the producers have made an official statement on the matter. Can’t someone involved just be a pal and throw us a bone?

Nolan is clearly more than capable of giving us a fantastic James Bond movie, but getting a man like him would indeed mean they’re looking for something quite different in way of style for the future movies. Nolan, on the other hand, seems to think they already have a clear vision where to take the character, and if it weren’t for SPECTRE I’d say I agree with him. SKYFALL gave us a complex, beautifully shot Bond movie that explored the icon like no other film before it, and though director Sam Mendes tried SPECTRE ultimately failed to stay on the same path. Though I don’t think the series needs a reboot I do think Nolan could give the series a fresh perspective, while still delivering something on the same scale as SKYFALL or even CASINO ROYALE. But we may never get that movie, because clearly we can’t have nice things. At least it will exist in my dreams.

DUNKIRK arrives July 21.