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Bond 25 director candidates: Who’s who

By David Pegram

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Chris Corbould, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson attend the Royal Film Performance of 'Spectre' at Royal Albert Hall on October 26, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 26: Chris Corbould, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson attend the Royal Film Performance of 'Spectre' at Royal Albert Hall on October 26, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) /
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With shooting set to begin in less than a year, now is a good time to look at the five directors most often inked to Bond 25. Who are they and what have they done?

Yann Demange

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – OCTOBER 01: International Feature Film Jury member Yann Demange attends the Jury Photocall during the Zurich Film Festival on October 1, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland. The 11th Zurich Film Festival will take place from September 23 until October 4. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – OCTOBER 01: International Feature Film Jury member Yann Demange attends the Jury Photocall during the Zurich Film Festival on October 1, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland. The 11th Zurich Film Festival will take place from September 23 until October 4. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) /

Age: 40

Homeland: France / Great Britain

Notable films: 71; White Boy Rick

Honors:  Best Director, British Independent Film Awards (71)

Collaborations:  Matthew McConaughy, Jack O’Connell

Why is he being considered for Bond 25? Demange received high praise for his first film, 71, making him the “it” director; his new film, White Boy Rick, is receiving much buzz.

David Mackenzie

CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 16: Director David Mackenzie attends the ‘Hell Or High Water’ Photocall during the 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 16: Director David Mackenzie attends the ‘Hell Or High Water’ Photocall during the 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2016 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) /

Age: 51

Homeland: Scotland

Notable films: Hell or High Water; Starred Up; Outlaw King

Honors: 2014 Best Director, Scotland BAFTA Awards (Starred Up)

Collaborations:  Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Ben Mendelsohn, Jack O’Connell, Ashton Kutcher, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Why is he being considered for Bond 25? Mackenzie received high praise for Hell or High Water, making him a hot commodity; his latest film, Outlaw King, will be relased on Netflix.

Paul McGuigan

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 10: Director Paul McGuigan attends the New York Premiere of ‘Victor Frankenstein’ at Chelsea Bow Tie Cinemas on November 10, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 10: Director Paul McGuigan attends the New York Premiere of ‘Victor Frankenstein’ at Chelsea Bow Tie Cinemas on November 10, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) /

Age: 54

Homeland: Scotland

Notable films: Lucky Number Slevin; Wicker Park; Gangster No. 1; Push; Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool

Honors: Best Film, Milan Film Festival (Lucky Number Slevin)

Collaborations: Annette Bening, Jamie Bell, Bruce Willis, Rose Byrne, Chris Evans, Paul Bettany

Why is he being considered for Bond 25? Bond producer Barbara Broccoli produced McGuigan’s latest movie, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool; reports suggest McGuigan has impressed Broccoli, as a result.

Christopher Nolan

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 07: Christopher Nolan attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – JANUARY 07: Christopher Nolan attends The 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) /

Age:  47

Homeland: Great Britain

Notable films: Memento; Batman Begins; The Dark Knight, Inception; Dunkirk

Honors: Best Director, Austin Film Critics Association (The Dark Knight); Nomination, Best Picture, 83rd Academy Awards (Inception)

Collaborations: Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Tom Hardy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Caine

Why is he being considered for Bond 25? The better questions is, “Why wouldn’t he be?”  Nolan is one of Britain’s most established and successful directors of all time, and he has expressed interest in directing Bond.

Next: Ranked: James Bond meets the villain

Denis Villeneuve

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Denis Villeneuve attends the 21st Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 5, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for HFA)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Denis Villeneuve attends the 21st Annual Hollywood Film Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 5, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for HFA) /

Age: 50

Homeland: Canada

Notable films: Prisoners; Sicario; Arrival; Blade Runner 2049

Honors: Nomination, Best Director, 89th Academy Awards (Arrival)

Collaborations: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio del Toro, Jeremy Renner, Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Jared Leto

Why is he being considered for Bond 25? Reports suggest that Daniel Craig is trying to recruit Villeneuve, who is on record as saying that directing a Bond is a dream of is. Currently, however, Villeneuve is attached to another project: Dune.

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