For a moment, it seemed like we’d find out the director of the next James Bond film before the year was out. Yann Demange, Denis Villeneuve and David MacKenzie were all reported to be frontrunners for the gig this summer, with the trades suggesting Demange, who helmed ” ’71” and the upcoming Matthew McConaughey joint “White Boy Rick.”. Then things cooled off, but word started circulating that Daniel Craig himself wanted Villeneuve for the gig.
Well, the director has responded to the rumors, and there seems to be a scheduling issue that’s preventing him from landing the job. Screen Daily says he was cryptic and couldn’t comment about any potential Bond movies, only to say, “I cannot be split in two, but I love Daniel Craig.”
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However, in a recent conversation with Screen Crush, the filmmaker was a bit more forthcoming, saying, “I would love to. I said to [producer] Barbara [Broccoli], I would love to work with you and with Daniel, but I’m engaged. [Laughs] I will love to do it, honestly. I’m a spoiled filmmaker right now.”
So, what is he engaged with? Well, “Dune.” Villeneuve is busy writing the new adaptation of the cult sci-fi novel, a project he’s long had on his wishlist.
“Listen, I would love to do a Bond movie. I think Daniel Craig is a fantastic actor and I would like to, but several months ago I came into do ‘Dune’ and I engaged myself. I committed myself and I’m someone that doesn’t step back. I remember I committed to do ‘Enemy,’ they came with ‘Prisoners‘ I said, ‘I need to do Enemy first,’ and I had to break to bend the schedule. I did the same with ‘Arrival‘ and ‘Blade Runner [2049].’ I did ‘Blade Runner,’ one of my conditions was that I would have time to do ‘Arrival’ first. Once I commit, I commit,” he explained. “When Legendary offered me to do ‘Dune,’ on a silver plate? Which was like my dream project that I’m dreaming to do for 30 years? I said yes right away. I want to honor that. It doesn’t mean the movie will happen, maybe in six months the movie will – and Bond is an old fantasy of mine, but I can’t be in two places at the same time. It’s a strange year because I would love to do a James Bond. I need to focus.”
So, it sounds like Villeneuve doesn’t want to have too many plates spinning at the same time. If “Dune” doesn’t work out for whatever reason, the director will take a harder look at Bond, or Broccoli and Craig will really need to make him an offer he can’t refuse.
“James Bond 25” opens on November 8, 2019.