In the newest issue of Empire magazine, director Christopher Nolan discussed his prospects for future projects, putting one of them to rest and teasing the living hell out of us with the possibility of another.
Nolan’s Howard Hughes biopic, which was to star Jim Carey as the reclusive aviator, is now officially off the director’s plate, as he stated that the Batman franchise, particularly the character of Bruce Wayne, was able to quench that thirst, “Luckily I managed to find another wealthy, quirky character who’s orphaned at a young age,” said Nolan.
The bigger news is the prospect of Nolan on the Bond franchise. Nolan stated that he is a big fan of the series, as are most Brits, and cited the films as a key influence in his work on both BATMAN BEGINS and INCEPTION, particularly the snowy showdown at the end of the latter (compared to ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE).
Nolan is very serious about the possibility, but with some reservations, chiefly that of timing.
“It would have to be the right situation and the right time in their cycle of things,” said Nolan about tackling 007. As Nolan is a very hands on director, he would certainly bring a lot of ideas and probably require a larger level of control over the material than most Bond directors, but I think the trade-off would be worth it.
While this is just talk, it’s certainly exciting talk nonetheless. This isn’t the first time Nolan has mentioned his love of the Bond films and the prospects of making one, so perhaps with a continuous boost of wanting to be a part of the 007 team the producers will hear his call and answer accordingly.
I couldn’t think of a better fit for the Bond franchise than Nolan and would love to see what he would do with the franchise. Regardless of what Nolan chooses to do next it will certainly make headlines in a big way. I expect we’ll hear what his next project will be sooner than later, but until that time, I’ll continue to hold out hope that his passion for 007 leads to a Nolan-helmed Bond flick.
What say you?