BOND 25 has had a shakey start, to say the least. Danny Boyle was originally hired to direct, but was replaced last year by Cary Joji Fukunaga after the SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE and TRAINSPOTTING helmer left due to creative differences. Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are tasked with penning the script, the duo having written several prior installments in the long-standing spy series, and renowned script doctor a.k.a. miracle worker Scott Z. Burns has been called in to do rewrites, all with a April 2020 release date looming ever closer on the horizon.
Yes, the heat is definitely on, but fear not fellow Bond fans — help is on the way. For the second time in as many years, KILLING EVE helmer Phoebe Waller-Bridge is bringing her skills to one of the biggest franchises in the world. In addition to overseeing one of the best shows on television — seriously, if you haven't seen KILLING EVE yet, stop what you're doing and go watch it right now — the ferociously talented up-and-comer also recently co-starred as a hilarious android in last year’s SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, and she starred in and wrote the Amazon hit show FLEABAG.
As for how Waller-Bridge came to be involved, The Guardian reports that “sources close to the film in the US said that while in the country she discussed with Craig how to improve the script of Bond 25, which the 007 actor felt needed some “polishing,” by introducing more humour and the offbeat style of writing she is best known for.” Waller-Bridge has been tapped to help enliven the script for the as-yet untitled BOND 25, but that's not all. IndieWire reports that James Bond himself, a.k.a. Daniel Craig, has personally requested her assistance. Apparently, when even 007 himself can't get the job done, it's up to Waller-Bridge to save the world. Consider my interest in this project officially piqued.
Further details regarding BOND 25 are being kept under wraps, as is customary for the series, though Rami Malek has been rumored to serve as its villain following his recent Oscar triumph for playing Freddie Mercury in BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY.
Stay tuned in to JoBlo for more updates as they roll in.