The new James Bond movie has had to jump some hurdles on its way to being made, including securing Daniel Craig for another outing and finding a new distributor (once Sony, now Annapurna). Then matters shifted to a new director, and after his name was reported as a top choice to direct BOND 25, Danny Boyle has confirmed he and screenwriter John Hodge (the TRAINSPOTTING movies) are working on a story and script for the movie.
Boyle was recently on-hand at a screening of his new FX show, THE TRUST, and it was there he was asked by Metro if he was indeed taking on the job to direct BOND 25. Though he kept some details close to the chest, he said he and Hodge are fleshing out an idea into a full script, and that his directing gig depends on how that goes.
We’ve got an idea, John Hodge, the screenwriter, and I have got this idea, and John is writing it at the moment. And it all depends on how it turns out. It would be foolish of me to give any of it away.
As Deadline reported a few weeks ago, Boyle is the top choice to direct the movie, but there are other factors at play. See, the studio has a script ready by writers Robert Wade and Neal Purvis (CASINO ROYALE, SKYFALL, SPECTRE), but Hodge and Boyle are being given the chance to flesh out their own idea. Should the script they’re working on be accepted (which may not be done for a few months), they will move forward with Boyle directing. If not, the studio will use the Purvis/Wade script, with Boyle perhaps not taking on the job, with the studio also being interested in Yann Demange ('71) and David Mackenzie (HELL OR HIGH WATER).
On that note, Boyle did give a hint at a timeline, saying that if all goes well he would start on Bond by the end of the year. However, he does have another movie on the docket, which is a comedy/musical from writer Richard Curtis.
We are working on a script right now. And it all depends on that really. I am working on a Richard Curtis script at the moment. We hope to start shooting that in 6 or 7 weeks. Then Bond would be right at the end of the year. But we are working on them both right now.
So, for now, it seems there’s still some stuff that needs to be worked out before Boyle officially signs on to direct, and it appears he wants to tackle his own story rather than just jump on board the ship. When the script is done and turned in we will know more, but there’s plenty of time for things to happen, including Boyle stepping aside and a new director coming in. I hope Boyle takes the gig and would love to see HIS movie, story and all.
BOND 25 is set for November 8, 2019.