Now that Daniel Craig is on board for Bond 25, will he also be working his magic to recruit the director? He’s done so once before. Make that, twice before. Craig not only convinced Sam Mendes to direct Skyfall but to also come back for Spectre.
Reports suggest that EON Productions has narrowed its search for a director to three: Yann Demange, Denis Villenueve, and David McKenzie. But no official announcement has been made. So we are still left to speculate, and if Daniel Craig were to turn to a director with whom he has already collaborated, who could possibly step in and direct his send off?
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Matthew Vaughn
Daniel Craig starred in Vaughn’s directorial debut, Layer Cake (as did Tom Hardy). Vaughn has gone on to have a productive career, but this includes the Kingsman films, a rival to Bond. Can’t see EON willing to recruit him, for this reason only.
Winter is Coming
Danny Boyle
Boyle directed Craig (as Bond) in the short film “Happy & Glorious” for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics. He would be a legitimate choice for Craig’s send-off except for one thing: he has already said no way to any suggestion of directing a Bond film. Craig would have to do some heavy recruiting here.
Sam Taylor-Johnson
The female auteur and photographer is a good friend of Craig’s. She directed him and Judi Dench in a 2011 PSA titled “Equals,” produced for International Women’s Day. In effect, she is the first and only female to direct Bond in any capacity. But her lack of experience, and “Golden Raspberry”nomination for Fifty Shades of Grey make her an exceptionally long shot.
Jon Favreau
Craig worked with Favreau on Cowboys and Aliens. But Favreau’s plate seems very full at the moment: he is directing Disney’s The Lion King and Jungle Book 2. It is safe to count him out based on this alone.
Steven Spielberg
Craig has maintained a close relationship with Spielberg, who directed him in Munich and The Adventures of Tintin. While a Spielberg-directed Bond film would raise anticipation levels to an “all-time high,” Spielberg is on record as having too many hard feelings over his rejection to direct The Spy Who Loved Me. Maybe the two-time Oscar winner should get over it?
David Fincher
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo may have been a box office disappointment, but Fincher got a stellar performance out of Craig, whom he praised in interviews. Fincher may seem like an unlikely choice, but Brad Pitt has also been recruiting him for World War Z 2, and Fincher seems interested. It is hard to imagine him doing a zombie sequel, much less a Bond film. So who knows?
John Crowley
Who is this, you may be asking? Crowley directed Craig and Hugh Jackman on Broadway, in 2009’s A Steady Rain. Though mostly known for his theater directing, Crowley has gone on to direct Brooklyn, starring Saorise Ronan, and — get this — two episodes of True Detective. He’d make an interesting choice, for sure.
Sam Mendes
Yes, he has already said that he is done. Yes, there are those rumors out there that Spectre strained his relationship with Daniel Craig. But it’s best not to count Mendes out. Craig reeled him back in once before; he could do it again.