S.J. Clarkson, Bart Layton and Yann Demange are reportedly among contenders to replace Danny Boyle.
- Sep 6, 2018
AceShowbiz - MGM and Eon's search for a new director for the 25th James Bond movie is still underway following Danny Boyle's exit. Now, three new names have been mentioned in the contention to take over the helming duty.
According to Variety, Bart Layton ("American Animals"), S.J. Clarkson who was recently rumored circling the "Star Trek 4" directing gig, and Yann Demange ("White Boy Rick") are being considered for the job.
Demange was previously a strong contender before the job went to Boyle. He, however, didn't land the job because his movie "White Boy Rick" was unfinished at the time and the producers were unable to see the movie. Now, he's allegedly back in contention following the "Slumdog Millionaire" director's departure from "Bond 25". MGM and Eon execs now want to see the final product of Demange's work in a screening.
Meanwhile, meetings with Layton and Clarkson are still being arranged.
As reported before, the producers have less than two months to decide who will be Boyle's replacement if they want to keep the current production schedule on track. Longer than that, not only the production date is pushed back, but also the movie release has to be delayed.
Boyle exited the project on August 21 due to "creative differences." However, it was later said that the helmer bowed out after it clashed with returning star Daniel Craig over plans to cast relatively unknown actor Tomasz Kot as the film's Russian villain. Craig reportedly has a big say in all the casting decisions, and he and producers couldn't agree with Boyle over the casting of Kot for the villainous role.
In a Radio Times interview conducted before his departure was announced, the "Trainspotting" director admitted that his love of the stories on paper would interfere with his moviemaking plans. "The books were everything to me when I was a kid," he said.
"I read them multiple times. Like everyone else, I saw the films, but I'd already read the books so I had a different relationship with the characters," he added. "I think it'd be impossible for a Bond aficionado to write or direct a Bond film. You'd be hampered by how much you knew. They want you to bring a freshness to it."
"Bond 25" is currently still scheduled for a November 8, 2019 release in the U.S.
