It’s becoming increasingly likely that the currently untitled Bond 25 will be ushering in a new era for the long running espionage franchise. Daniel Craig, who has portrayed 007 in the previous four films, reportedly turned down a highly lucrative offer to return (though he hasn’t officially stepped down yet) while signing on to other projects such as Steven Soderbergh’s Logan Lucky. In addition, Craig’s Skyfall and Spectre director Sam Mendes recently stated that it was time for another filmmaker to call the shots. One way or another, Bond will have a new look for his next mission.
As such, there has been much discussion concerning the actor who will become the seventh person to play James Bond. The popular pick at the moment is Tom Hiddleston, who starred in the critically acclaimed spy miniseries The Night Manager. It’s been said he had talks with EON Productions for the role. Depending on how things play out, Hiddleston’s hypothetical first go-around as Bond could be a Night Manager reunion, if a new rumor is to be believed.
According to Radio Times, Hiddleston’s Night Manager director Susanne Bier is said to be on the shortlist of possible Bond 25 candidates. Currently, there’s no telling who her alleged competition is, so it’s difficult to say how high on the list Bier ranks. Still, the notion of her being considered is a welcomed one, and after The Night Manager earned raves for its riveting story and top notch performances, Bier has proven her worth within this particular genre. The show was seen as Hiddleston’s audition for Bond, so perhaps the same can be said for Bier.
After Spectre was seen as a bland “Bond by numbers” entry (read our review), many moviegoers are ready for the franchise to go off in a completely different direction and mix things up a bit. There wouldn’t be many better ways to accomplish that than to bring in the first woman 007 director and give her the keys to the Aston Martin. Bier could potentially offer fresh perspective on James Bond, which the series arguably needs. If hired, she ideally would be able to tone down some of the character’s more misogynistic tendencies (see: Skyfall’s shower scene) and have Bond better represent the values of today. 007 will always be a womanizer, but if the films are to continuously evolve, they need to be products of their time - not a bygone era.
For Night Manager fans, this is certainly a tantalizing prospect, but it’s important to remember that it’s still early. Hiddleston and Bier, while great choices, are just some of the talents that could bring Bond 25 to the big screen. Tentpole projects like this are always subject to an endless string of speculation, and nothing is truly confirmed until the cameras start rolling. There’s also the matter of the James Bond film distribution rights, which have yet to be settled after the contract with Sony expired following Spectre. There are still several pieces that need to fall into place, and producer Barbara Broccoli has seemingly just begun her search for the next creative team. It could be a while before something comes into fruition.
Where it stands now, however, the odds favor Hiddleston landing the part. In the event that happens, it would certainly be beneficial to Bier, who established a great working relationship with the actor on Night Manager. The topic of diversity in Hollywood has been a hot talking point recently, and EON could take great strides forward by having Bier be the next Bond filmmaker. “Jane Bond” may never come to pass, but this would be an excellent way to reflect the modern world with a classic movie series.
We’ll keep you updated on Bond 25 as more information becomes available.
Source: Radio Times
