Last year, Alfonso Cuarón was in talks to direct the next James Bond film, with reports claiming the filmmaker had met with Amazon to pitch a new “take” on the franchise’s future. However, a deal never materialized, and Denis Villeneuve ultimately landed the job.
For months now, rumors about Jacob Elordi becoming a leading candidate to wear the tuxedo have continued to circulate — some reports even claimed the actor had meetings with Amazon/MGM.
Today, a short film directed by Cuarón — the four-time Oscar winner — has everyone talking. It may technically be a Chanel ad, but Elordi fully embraces action-star mode, and Bond inevitably comes to mind while watching it. “Who Will Take It All?” is the title of the two-minute-and-16-second spot.
Was this intended to serve as an audition tape? You think Cuarón and Elordi did not discuss this before shooting the ad?
Several studio executives have told Page Six that the Chanel ad is “the best Bond audition reel ever created.” In the film, Elordi cracks an impenetrable safe while engaging in an acrobatic cat-and-mouse game with model Libby Taverner. In fact, some speculate Elordi may have suffered the foot injury that kept him off the Cannes jury while shooting this ad.
Elordi has remained a strong contender for the role of Bond. According to sources speaking with Page Six, Amazon/MGM is reportedly looking for a younger actor — preferably under 30 — who can carry the franchise across five films, much like Daniel Craig did on his 15-year 007 run, which began in 2006.
At 27, Elordi fits that vision perfectly. Insiders also claim the next Bond is expected to be British or come from a former British colony, such as Australia, where the Brisbane-born Elordi hails from.
In the meantime, Steven Knight is still writing the script, while Denis Villeneuve remains in post-production on ‘Dune 3’ for the rest of the year. As a result, it’s looking increasingly likely that Bond 26 won’t begin shooting until next year.