The ‘Bond 25’ project is set to welcome the director Cary Joji Fukunaga aboard, as the American has been brought in to replace Danny Boyle for the next Film in the lucrative James Bond franchise. Sadly, for movie fans, the change of personnel has had its consequences on the release date of the hugely anticipated film, with the expected opening now moving back to February 2020.
Fukunaga will be making movie history as he settles into the hot seat, becoming the first American to lead what could be referred to as an official Bond release. Oscar-winning director Boyle stepped down from directorial duties back in August this year, citing “creative differences” being behind his decision to leave the project.
His replacement, Fukunaga has had his own fair share of disagreements in the past though, having walked away from the Warner Bros’ production of “IT” by Stephen King. At the time it was alleged that the leading film studio believed that he could not be “controlled.” It will be interesting to observe how he handles himself on the Bond set.
Announcement on Twitter
News of the switch to Fukunaga was announced earlier this week on the film franchise’s official Twitter account, backed by the producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and leading actor Daniel Craig. The message indicated that “#Bond 25 will begin filming at Pinewood Studios on 4 March 2019.”
Worked with Idris Elba in the past
The introduction of the 41-year-old Fukunaga on to the James Bond set is something of a surprise but he his hardly an unknown name in the film and television industry.
Past credits include writing and directing the gritty 2009 thriller “Sin Nombre,” and he has also received critical acclaim for the 2015 war drama “Beasts of No Nation.” Interestingly, he hooked up with Idris Elba on the latter project, the actor who has often been linked with stepping into Daniel Craig’s shoes at some time in the future as James Bond himself.
Emmy Award winner
An Emmy Award also sits proudly in Fukunaga’s collection, after he won the prestigious prize back in 2014 for directing the first series of the crime drama “True Detective” for American television. That first season included an opportunity to work with many of the industry’s leading lights and talents, including Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”), Woody Harrelson (“The Hunger Games”) and Michelle Monaghan, who has become something of a stalwart in the “Mission: Impossible” film franchise.
