Rumors: EON Eying McGuigan for Bond 25
By David Pegram
As speculation surrounds the choice of Bond 25’s director, word is that EON may be considering Scottish director Paul McGuigan.
McGuigan has made a name for himself around the Indie film circuit. According to a report filed by Indie Wire, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson were impressed with his latest effort, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool. Broccoli is a producer on the film.
McGuigan’s other film credits include Wicker Park, Lucky Number Slevin, and Push. More recently, he has devoted his efforts to television. He has directed episodes of Smash, Scandal, Sherlock, and Luke Cage. He also directed the made-for-TV film, Victor Frankenstein, starring Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy.
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool is an adaptation of Peter Turner’s memoir of the same name. The story focuses on Turner’s relationship with actress Gloria Grehame, who lived in Liverpool just prior to her death in 1981.
At first glance, McGuigan may seem like an odd choice to direct Bond, considering his modest success as a filmmaker to this point. Starting with Roger Spottiswoode, in 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, EON has hired well-established directors. The trend continued with Michael Apted, Lee Tamahori, Martin Campbell (who’d gained wider notoriety after directing Golden Eye), Marc Forster, and Sam Mendes.
However, like Forster, McGuigan’s indie roots may be a benefit. He made his directorial debut with The Acid House (released in 1998). It was nominated for Best Feature Film at the 1999 New York Underground Film Awards.
Film Stars Never Die in Liverpool is just the second non-Bond movie to be produced by EON. The film stars Jaime Bell and Annette Bening, and it is slated for release later this year.
Check here and @eyeonbond for further developments and updates.