Alfonso Cuaron looked in pole position to direct the new James Bond film. But a fresh report now suggests otherwise.
Although he was never officially confirmed as the person to lead James Bond into a new era, there were plenty of industry folks who claimed that Alfonso Cuaron was a dead certain to direct the first James Bond film since Amazon MGM gained full control of the character. That was following a billion dollar deal with EON’s Barbara Brocolli.
Cuaron seemingly confimred that he was in discussions with David Heyman and Amy Pascal – the film’s producers – and that he was keen to do it, reportedly stating at a film masterclass in Paris back in April that: “There is indeed this project under discussion, and I have the desire – if it happens – to revisit this story in my own way.”
By ‘revisit’, we imagine that Cuaron is referring to an earlier offer he received to direct a Bond movie at some point before the success of 2013’s Gravity. Ultimately, Cuaron would decline – following an eye-opening chat with Joel Coen – in part because he wouldn’t have full directorial control over the project’s action sequences.
According to World Of Reel, history may well have repeated itself. Should the outlet prove to be correct, Cuaron has once again declined the opportunity to direct a James Bond film, although no reason has been offered as to why he appears to have changed his mind.
The change of heart comes in the wake of several high-profile Hollywood insiders such as Jeff Sneider and Matt Belloni reporting that this deal was inching closer to completion. If accurate, this story suggests that progress on Bond 26 isn’t moving as quickly as Amazon MGM would like it to, given that the studio is keen to begin recouping some of its billion dollar outlay.
Of course, all of this rumour and shadowplay isn’t hard news and wouldn’t seem out of place in 007’s world of espionage and whispers. But, until we hear something solid, hearsay is all we’ve got to go on.
Should it prove to be true, the news will come as something as a blow because Cuaron certainly seemed like a popular choice… perhaps we’ll yet see another u-turn in the reporting or this claim denied, but as it stands, this is the latest story to signal the current direction of next era for Bond.
Naturally, we’ll bring you more on this one as we hear it.
