We all know Denis Villeneuve is directing the next Bond, but at one point there was a list of five finalists vying for the job: Villeneuve, Edgar Wright, Jonathan Nolan, Paul King, and Edward Berger.
That said, I would assume Villeneuve will direct only the first instalment of this reboot, with other filmmakers taking his place for the ensuing chapters. Edward Berger would like to have a word.
Speaking with Screen Off Script at the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, Berger was asked whether Bond is still on his mind as a future project, and he didn't even hesitate:
Oh, absolutely […] James Bond, I've been a lifelong fan, and if they ever decided that they needed a director, that I could be a director that suited the films, I'm incredibly passionate about it.
I'm sure Berger was disappointed at not getting the 007 gig, but he's not showing it:
I've got many things that I want to do. This is one of them. I'm not losing sleep over it. I'm really looking forward to seeing Denis' version. I think he's just such a great director, and I can't wait to see his film.
Think about it. Once Villeneuve exits Bond, Amazon MGM might look back at the list of finalists they had before choosing him, and Berger is probably the one who makes the most sense on that list. Paul King and Edgar Wright have styles that differ vastly from Villeneuve's. Jonathan Nolan might be the next best option, but he hasn't proven himself in film as much as he has in television.
Last year, not too long after Villeneuve got the gig, Berger stated, “I'm a lifelong Bond fan, but unfortunately Denis is also.”
As far as major studio filmmakers taking on the 007 franchise, Villeneuve’s hiring was as good of a choice as one should expect — the only other more viable candidate might have been Christopher Nolan. The dream list for many fans has always consisted exclusively of those two names.
Berger, the director of "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Conclave," has spent the last few years looking for a blockbuster franchise to hop on board, circling "Ocean's 14," "Bond 26," and "Bourne," the last of which he's apparently still attached to. He recently settled on a "World War Z" sequel starring Brad Pitt. His next film, already shot, is "The Riders," also starring Pitt, from A24 and premiering sometime in 2027.
According to The Irish Examiner, Stillman's "A Night at Claridge's," his first feature since 2016's "Love & Friendship," began production in Limerick this week and is scheduled to wrap in mid-December.