And it was all going so well. After months of rumours and possible names, the creative team for the next Bond movie had started to shape up at last this year, with Danny Boyle attached to direct and John Hodge working on the script. Now, it's back to the drawing board as Boyle has left the film due to those old, thorny "creative differences".
Taking to the official 007 Twitter feed, the producers and star of the film made the announcement: "Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig today announced that due to creative differences Danny Boyle has decided to no longer direct Bond 25." No further details were forthcoming, and are unlikely to make their way out unless Boyle decides to elaborate.
What this means for the future of the Bond movies is unclear – obviously Wilson and Broccoli will move to find a new director, and we'd imagine that Hodge's script will either be dropped or re-written (unless the producers decide it makes more sense to try and keep it), but the bigger question is whether Daniel Craig will stay aboard.
MGM, Universal and Annapurna Pictures will be keeping their fingers crossed that the team can stay on target, though the planned UK release of 25 October, 2019 (with the States following on 8 November) could well be in jeopardy unless someone can step in to take over for the pencilled-in December production start. According to Variety's sources, casting had been underway, but any new director will likely want to have a say in elements of the film. Which means we're all back to wondering about who will direct the next movie, and Boyle will face the inquisition as to why he decided to depart when he does press for his latest, an untitled musical comedy drama he's worked on with Richard Curtis.
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