Guy Ritchie May Direct the Next Bond Film

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. director Guy Ritchie is on the shortlist to direct the next James Bond film.

This Summer’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E was an Ian Fleming-inspired adaptation of the popular 1960s television program of the same name. Fleming himself actually contributed early concepts to the show-runners before the show began production, including the character of Napoleon Solo.

The character of Solo (portrayed by Henry Cavill in the 2015 cinematic version) is essentially an Americanized carbon copy of Fleming’s James Bond.

Why is this all relevant?

The 2015 film was directed by English filmmaker Guy Ritchie, whose other credits include cult classics Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. He has a trademark for directing stylized action films, and he might just be the next James Bond director.

According to The Mirror, Eon producers enjoyed Ritchie’s The Man From U.N.C.L.E. adaptation so much that they want him to be called up to the major leagues and take on Bond himself.

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The real question is: is Guy Ritchie a good pick for the job?

It is a difficult question to unravel.

To be honest, Ritchie’s filmography is a mixed bag. RocknRolla, the Sherlock Holmes sequel, and indeed The Man From U.N.C.L.E. are all iffy movies, at best.

I’m a fan of Snatch and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, but I can understand that these movies are acquired tastes. The style of these two films wouldn’t transfer well to Bond, I don’t think.

This all being said, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., although it is a safe spy thriller hampered by story issues, is stylized in a Bond fashion. Still, I don’t want Bond 25 to be The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 2. Ritchie is, at times, a great director of action, but I can’t imagine a Guy Ritchie James Bond film.

Then again, certainly people were saying the guy who directed American Beauty would never be able to handle a Bond film, and look how that turned out.

Next: Black Panther is Marvel's James Bond

As always, thanks for reading!

What do you think? Should Guy Ritchie direct a Bond film? Let us know in the comments below!