Talking Bond 26 and beyond with The Bond Bulletin

A new director, two producers, and a scriptwriter are currently working on Bond 26. These are all well-established names in the film industry. Benjamin, Johan, and I recently discussed them plus a few topics beyond Bond. Here are some highlights.

The director: Denis Villeneuve

Amazon MGM Studios has brought acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve on board for Bond 26. Villeneuve is best known for Dune and Sicario. His latest project, Dune: Part Three, is still in production, which raises the question: will his schedule delay Bond?

We all agree that filming and directing is a time-consuming job. Benjamin isn’t much of a science fiction fan. But he loves Sicario. A film about a Mexican drugwar starring Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro, for us Bond-fans known as Dario in Licence to Kill (1989).

Johan likes the Dune-films. He loves the story and breathtaking cinematography. Villeneuve is new for me. But I give him a fair chance and tell the others that Villeneuve doesn’t have the final cut on Bond 26. Other directors might not be interested in making the film. So, that could be the issue why the pre-production start for Bond 26 took so long.

The producers: David Heyman and Amy Pascal

Amy Pascal is no stranger to Bond — she was a Sony Pictures board member during the release of Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), and Spectre (2015). David Heyman, meanwhile, is renowned for producing the Harry Potter-films and is also working on the upcoming Harry Potter-TV series for HBO.

We’re optimistic about this duo. Their fresh perspective could reinvigorate the franchise, though much will depend on their casting decisions. Benjamin, Johan and I believe Bond should be portrayed by a relatively unknown actor in his mid-thirties — someone who can grow into the role, not an actor already tied to Marvel or DC. Whether Pascal and Heyman take bold risks or stick to tradition remains to be seen.

The script writer: Steven Knight

The script will be written by Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders. Benjamin is especially pleased, highlighting Knight’s sharp storytelling and complex characters. Johan and I are less familiar with his work, but Benjamin describes how Cillian Murphy brought Thomas Shelby to life as the leader of a Birmingham crime family. Knight is also the writer of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, in The Netherlands known as Weekend Miljonairs.

We hope Knight crafts a strong, standalone Bond adventure, rather than a heavily interconnected saga like the James Bond Daniel Craig films. Those sprawling story arcs recently struggled at the box office — as did Marvel’s last efforts.

Wishes for Bond 26

Could Bond 26 be filmed in the Netherlands or Germany? While Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Berlin and Hamburg would make great backdrops, their tax incentives are less attractive compared to Poland, Hungary or Belgium. The United States is also a possibility, given Amazon MGM’s involvement.

I suggest South Africa, with Table Mountain and national parks offering striking scenery. Johan argues for New Zealand, with its versatile landscapes — from winter action sequences to rainforest chases. We all agree it could be spectacular.