U.K. bookie William Hill, one of the biggest names in betting across the pond, has named Guy Ritchie as the best bet for helming Bond 24 with 4:1 odds, following on the heels of the most successful Bond film ever, Skyfall. After director Sam Mendes made his intentions not to return to the series the rumblings have started about who will slide into his place. Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have always hired British filmmakers to tackle the franchise, so Ritchie has that block already checked. In addition, Ritchie also has crossover appeal, having directed the indie favorites LOCK, STOCK, AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS and SNATCH, and the blockbuster SHERLOCK HOLMES films starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.
Other contenders included two-time Bond director Martin Campbell at 9/1, Ang Lee and Ridley Scott both at 25/1, with longshots being Clint Eastwood, James Cameron and Quentin Tarantino at 33/1. This is all just fun conjecture, so I wouldn’t start calling your local bookie over this, but it does generate some interesting thought into where EON Productions will go with their next Bond helmer.
Personally, I think Ritchie is not only a great choice, but the best one. I think he could add some really hard-hitting visuals, as is his style, to the Bond franchise, and teaming him up with Daniel Craig just seems like a no-brainer. It feels like Craig should’ve been in all of Ritchie’s movies to date as he’s got that weathered bad ass look that seems befitting of a Guy Ritchie protagonist. Mendes pulled off a clean, slick Bond with SKYFALL, but I’d like to see a rough, stylish Bond. Ritchie has shown that he can transcend the odd violent crime caper and make something large scale and commercial while still retaining his personal style with the SHERLOCK HOLMES films. I say hand him the keys to the Rolls.
“The SHERLOCK HOLMES films have been an enormous success and we believe that Guy Ritchie is the man to be entrusted with the Bond franchise, although Bond by Quentin Tarantino would make interesting viewing,” said a spokesman for Hill. I agree.
In addition to this news, it looks like the producers are also trying to woo Adele back to the franchise as well, after winning an Oscar for her title song to SKYFALL (the best Bond song ever, in my opinion). Much like Shirley Bassey, who did continuous themes for DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER, MOONRAKER, and GOLDFINGER. It would be the first time they’ve used the same artist for the theme since then. No official confirmation on that, but after such an epic tune, how could the producers not want her back for more?
What do you guys think? Should Ritchie direct? Should Adele return?