007 What Ifs: Christopher Nolan Joins Distinguished List of Helmers Who Almost Directed James Bond Films

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Approaching four years have passed since the release of the last James Bond movie, “No Time to Die,” which marked the end of Daniel Craig’s five-film tenure as 007. During this time, there has been scant information regarding casting or directing, mainly just rumors and countless fan suggestions. Lately, it was reported that Christopher Nolan, one of the most prominent directors in Hollywood today, had even discussed directing an earlier Bond film, but those discussions didn’t pan out. This places Nolan among a select group of highly talented directors who almost helmed a James Bond production.

8. Christopher Nolan (28th Bond Film)

Following Tenet, there were reports suggesting that Christopher Nolan had a strong desire to helm the next James Bond film. His vision involved rejuvenating the franchise by returning it to its 60s origins. However, this idea was met with enthusiasm within Amazon (now the owners of MGM studios and the Bond franchise). The potential hurdle was negotiating with Barbara Broccoli, a longstanding Bond producer who has historically held significant control over final cuts and the Bond name in films. Despite global anticipation, Nolan’s firm stance on maintaining creative control conflicted with Broccoli’s position, leading him to ultimately choose to direct Oppenheimer instead.

7. Quentin Tarantino (Casino Royale)

Following the Daniel Craig Bond series, let’s rewind to before Daniel Craig’s era, with our next almost director of legend, Quentin Tarantino. After Die Another Day didn’t perform well at the box office, the Bond franchise executives decided it was time for a change. They considered directors like Tarantino, known for his unique filmmaking approach. Tarantino and the producers actually had discussions about a future Bond film, with Tarantino also advocating for a return to the 60s and the reprisal of Pierce Brosnan for another movie. However, the Bond producers preferred to recast the role, and instead paired Martin Campbell with a new Bond, Daniel Craig.

6. Alfred Hitchcock (From Russia With Love and Thunderball)

As we journey through history, it’s intriguing to note that legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, renowned for his spy movies, was rumored for not just one, but two different James Bond films. Following the triumph of Dr. No, there were whispers that Hitchcock showed interest in the sequel, From Russia With Love, although nothing was officially confirmed. A similar tale emerged regarding the fourth Bond movie, Thunderball. Hitchcock’s name was floated during the hiring process, yet no deal was ever sealed. It’s fascinating to speculate what cinematic gem Hitchcock might have crafted within the Bond universe.

5. Steven Spielberg (The Spy Who Loved Me)

Indeed, Steven Spielberg has joined this list as he expressed interest in directing The Spy Who Loved Me. Reports suggest that Spielberg had aspirations to direct a Bond film and approached the production team directly. It’s worth mentioning that Spielberg initially sought to lead this project even before he established himself as a prominent Hollywood director; at that time, he was still in the early stages of preparing his now-iconic film, Jaws. Whether or not Spielberg will attempt another Bond film after his career took flight remains to be seen.

4. Peter Jackson (The World is Not Enough)

In this rephrased version: The list we have doesn’t restrict renowned fantasy figures, such as Peter Jackson, who almost became a Bond director due to an uncommon factor. Unlike her refusal of Nolan, Barbara Broccoli reportedly developed feelings for Jackson following his movie “Heavenly Creatures.” She aggressively pursued him to direct “The World is Not Enough,” until she watched “The Frighteners,” which made her prefer a distinct directorial style. Despite being an unexpected choice for the Bond franchise, Jackson still makes the cut on our list.

3. John Woo (Goldeneye)

In the realm of Bond-like action directors, John Woo was a strong contender, having been considered for an action-packed early draft of the iconic film Goldeneye. Woo was even offered the chance to direct a Bond movie first, but he declined. With his impressive collection of action films such as Hard Boiled and A Better Tomorrow, Woo seemed like the ideal candidate, but despite being flattered by the offer, he chose not to take on the Goldeneye project.

2. Steven Soderbergh (N/A)

Instead of Woo handling the action-oriented aspects of the Bond series, it seems fitting that Steven Soderbergh would be tapped for the espionage side, given his background. Although specifics about this project are scarce, Soderbergh did express interest in helming one of the Bond films during Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007. The thought of the Ocean’s Eleven creator contributing to the Bond franchise is intriguing, but creative disagreements regarding the film’s direction ultimately led Soderbergh to step down from the project early on.

1. Danny Boyle (No Time to Die)

As a gamer, I’ve got to say, it’s a bummer talking about parting ways, but let me tell you about Danny Boyle, the director who came closest to being on board for Daniel Craig’s last Bond flick, No Time to Die. Initially, Boyle was the man for the job, hired to direct Craig’s swan song. But a few months into production, things didn’t work out as planned, and Boyle bowed out, citing “creative disagreements” with the studio. Later on, he opened up about the experience, sharing that he walked away having learned more about himself, and with no hard feelings towards the director who ultimately took over, Cary Fukunaga.

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2025-02-27 03:39