Director Danny Boyle has dropped out of participation in the next, untitled James Bond film.
The announcement came today from the franchise’s official Twitter account –
Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig today announced that due to creative differences Danny Boyle has decided to no longer direct Bond 25. pic.twitter.com/0Thl116eAd
— James Bond (@007) August 21, 2018
Boyle first hinted at his possible involvement with the franchise back in March, suggesting that he would be taking on the popular action franchise after he finished production on an untitled comedy starring Lily James and Kate McKinnon.
This is rather disappointing news. Boyle has previously stated that he was a Bond fan and it was exciting to think about what an Academy Award-winning director like Boyle could do with a franchise installment. Of course, being an Academy Award winning director probably comes with a certain amount of creative latitude when working on projects. Unfortunately, working on a franchise film, especially one as tightly controlled as the Bond franchise is, means giving up a certain amount of autonomy. So it is probably not too surprising. But still disappointing.
With production slated to begin this December for a November 2019 release, Eon Productions will need to get moving to get a director on board and up to speed to meet that start date.
Currently, the next Bond film, the franchise’s twenty-fifth, has a screenplay by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, the two screenwriters responsible for the initial drafts of all of current Bond Daniel Craig’s outings – Casino Royale, Quantum Of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre.
