Is it still April Fool’s?
“Fleabag” star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who helped write the script of “No Time To Die,” is supposedly in “early discussions” with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli to … direct the next film!
Supposedly, Broccoli has called Waller-Bridge her number one choice to direct the 26th film in the franchise.
That’s definitely one way to destroy the franchise. If Broccoli is looking to harakiri Bond for good then this is definitely one to do it. That’s why I’ve decided to position this latest Bond news as a “rumor.” I don’t believe Broccoli can be this stupid.
Here’s what the Daily Mail says.
It’s very early days, but Barbara has been quite open about saying Phoebe would be her first choice to direct and co-write the next film. Barbara believes Phoebe is a huge talent and brings a fresh, modern take to Bond. They've already had very early discussions, but there are lots of variables in the equation, including Phoebe's increasingly packed schedule.
We will first get to see Waller-Bridge on the big screen as Harrison Ford's goddaughter Helena in the fifth and final Indiana Jones film. She is also writing a script for Amazon’s Tomb Raider TV series.
Some of the actors who had been rumoured for Bond in the last year included, early frontrunner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as well as Henry Cavill, Regé Jean-Page, Tom Hardy, James Norton and Chiwetel Ejiofor. I would have chosen Idris Elba but last year he walked away from 'years of talks' with Broccoli.
You can read the Bond/Taylor-Johnson stories here, here, here, here and here.
Taylor-Johnson would be succeeding Daniel Craig. I had my doubt about Craig’s casting but he surprisingly delivered two of the best movies of this five decade plus franchise: “Casino Royale” and “Skyfall.” I never had high expectations for this franchise to begin with, but those two movies were aces.