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Who is replacing Danny Boyle as director of Bond 25?

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Picture: Columbia Bond comp

Who will direct Bond 25 now? (Picture: Columbia)

With the news that Danny Boyle has quit as director of the next James Bone movie, its left fans with one question.

If Boyle was the director and he has quit, whos now directing the movie?

Boyle will naturally require a replacement to step into his shoes to helm the project that is Bond 25.

As nothing has yet been confirmed by Bond bosses, here we round up the likely contenders.

Christopher Nolan – 2/1

There was speculation last year that Nolan would be directing Bond 25 when film website IMDB appeared to accidentally list him as the director for the movie despite it not yet being officially announced.

And to thicken the plot, Nolan himself said earlier this year how much hed love to direct a Bond movie.

(Picture: Getty)

When asked if he will be directing Bond 25 in February, Nolan replied: I wont be the man, no, no, which was correct, given Boyle had been the man for the job.

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But then Nolan had added: I would love to make a Bond film at some point. I think those producers Barbara [Broccoli] and Michael [Wilson] do a tremendous job and so has [director] Sam Mendes.

I have always been very inspired by the films. Could now be Nolans chance?

All of this puts the Batman director as the bookies firm favourite, with odds of 2/1, at taking over from Boyle.

Yann Demange – 5/1

(Picture: Getty)

French film director Yann Demange is also in the running.

Despite being best known for directing TV shows, including Top Boy, Secret Diary Of A Call Girl and Dead Set, hes also directed films 71 and White Boy Rick, with Betfair giving him odds of 5/1.

Denis Villeneuve – 8/1

(Picture: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)

French Canadian film director and writer Denis Villeneuve is also one of the bookies choices for a potential Boyle replacement.

Hes directed films including Maelstrom, Enemy and Sicario.

Sam Mendes – 8/1

Hes directed Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015) already, so he knows his way around a Bond film. But would Kate Winslets ex-husband really go back?

Its unlikely, given in 2015 he admitted hed run out of ideas for another Bond film.

(Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Every idea Ive had for a Bond movie, Ive stuck into this one. Its gone in. The Bond bank is dry, Mendes told Shortlist after finishing work on Spectre in 2015.

If youre asking me what would I do with another Bond movie? I havent a clue. Go into space? Lets do it! they already did it. Lets do it again.

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There have also been rumours that Craig only agreed to return for Bond 25 when he knew Mendes wouldnt be directing a third 007 movie. Apparently there are creative differences between the pair.

Ironically, creative differences was also given as the reason for Boyle quitting midway through the new project.

Lynne Ramsay – 12/1

(Picture: Getty)

Acclaimed British filmmaker Lynne Ramsay also makes the list, with odds of 12/1, reports Betfair.

Having directed films including We Need To Talk About Kevin, You Were Never Really Here and Morvern Callar, if she were to bag the Bond gig, shed be the first-ever female 007 director.

What also makes Ramsays chances that bit higher, is that Broccoli is known for selecting British filmmakers for the Bond films, putting Ramsay in the same league as Nolan to replace Boyle.

Daniel Craig – 33/1

An actor also directing the film hes in? It wouldnt be the first time – just look at Ben Affleck, Mel Gibson, Woody Allen, Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks, to name a few.

So could Craig take over as director and really shape his rumoured final outing as Bond exactly how he wants it?

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by MGM/Columbia/EON/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock (5886228cl) Daniel Craig Quantum Of Solace - 2008 Director: Marc Forster MGM/Columbia/EON UK Scene Still James Bond Action/Adventure

Daniel Craig is Bond – but could he also be Bonds director? (Picture: MGM/Columbia/EON/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

Commenting on the likely contenders, Betfair spokesperson Katie Baylis said: The shock news that Danny Boyle has pulled out of directing the next Bond film has led to speculation, usually reserved for who will actually play Bond, on who will direct it.

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At this stage Christopher Nolan is the 2/1 favourite to replace him after bringing Batman back to his best in the Dark Knight trilogy. Yann Demange is next at 5/1 with Denis Villenueve at 8/1 with both believed to have been in contention before Boyle got the gig.

Also at 8/1 is Sam Mendes while Lynne Ramsay is at 12/1 with rumours she could become the first female Bond director. Daniel Craig is in at 33/1 although it would be a big ask to star and direct in what will be his last Bond.

Of course, if the desired director doesnt have a free slate for 2019, Bond bosses may have to consider pushing Bond 25 back to 2020 – or risk going with a director that isnt their first choice.

Bond directors

A list of who has directed which Bond film through the years:

Sean Connery

Dr. No (1962) – Terence Young
From Russia With Love (1963) – Terence Young
Goldfinger (1964) – Guy Hamilton
Thunderball (1965) – Terence Young
You Only Live Twice (1967) – Lewis Gilbert
Diamonds Are Forever (1971) – Guy Hamilton
Never Say Never Again (1983) – Irvin Kershner

David Niven

Casino Royale (1967) – Ken Hughes, John Huston, Joseph McGrath, Robert Parrish, Val Guest, Richard Talmadge

George Lazenby

On Her Majestys Secret Service (1969) – Peter R Hunt

Roger Moore

Live And Let Die (1973) – Guy Hamilton
The Man With The Golden Gun (1974) – Guy Hamilton
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) –
Moonraker (1979) –
For Your Eyes Only (1981) –
Octopussy (1983) – JOhn Glen
A View To Kill (1985) – John Glen

Timothy Dalton

The Living Daylights (1987) – John Glen
Licence To Kill (1989) – JOhn Glen

Pierce Brosnan

GoldenEye (1995) – Martin Campbell
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) – Roger Spottiswoode
The World Is Not Enough (1999) – MichaeL Apted
Die Another Day (2002) – Lee Tamahori

Daniel Craig

Casino Royale (2006) – Martin Campbell
Quantum Of Solace (2008) – Marc Forster
Skyfall (2012) – Sam Mendes
Spectre (2015) – Sam Mendes
Bond 25 (2019) – Danny Boyle quit, replacement unknown

It was confirmed Danny Boyle had quit as director of the new James Bond film on Tuesday.

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The 61-year-old director was revealed as the 2019 films director in May this year.

And just three months later, he has turned his back on the project and it seems creative differences are the reason for this shock turn of events.

Who these creative differences are between is not known.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Allocca/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock (9460506dj) Danny Boyle FX Annual All-Star Party, New York, USA - 15 Mar 2018

Danny Boyle is no longer working on Bond 25 (Picture: Dave Allocca/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock)

His stepping down was announced in Twitter on the official James Bond account.

The tweet read: 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.

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. pic.twitter.com/0Thl116eAd

— James Bond (@007) August 21, 2018

Boyle revealed In March that he was working on a script for Bond.

I am working on a Richard Curtis script at the moment. We hope to start shooting that in 6 or 7 weeks, he said at the time. Then Bond would be right at the end of the year. But we are working on them both right now.

Danny continued: Weve got an idea, John Hodge, the screenwriter, and I have got this idea, and John is writing it at the moment. And it all depends on how it turns out. It would be foolish of me to give any of it away.

And then in May, Boyle was confirmed as director via a statement from MGMs President Jon Glickman and chairman Kevin Ulrich. It said: Under the leadership of Michael and Barbara, we couldnt be more thrilled than to bring the next 007 adventure to the big screen uniting the incomparable Daniel Craig with the extraordinary vision of Danny Boyle.

Its been 21 years since Tomorrow Never Dies was distributed by MGM and its incredibly gratifying to be releasing this film alongside the powerhouse team at Universal.

No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Danjaq/EON Productions/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock (5886236cm) Daniel Craig Skyfall - 2012 Director: Sam Mendes Danjaq / EON Productions UK/USA Scene Still

Daniel Craig will return (Picture: Danjaq/EON Productions/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

Ben Whishaw plays Q (Picture: Colombia Pictures)

Q actor Ben Whishaw had previously stated how pleased he was at the prospect of Boyle being on board for Bond, prior to the news being confirmed in May.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Whishaw said: I just think its really exciting. I was thrilled when I read that he was going to be doing it. I cant think of a better, more exciting fit for Daniel [Craig] and for the way hes taken the character and everything.

It seems weird to talk about it because Ive not had a conversation about it, so it may or may not, who knows whats going to happen.

Asked if hell definitely appear, Whishaw added: Yes I believe Im contracted to be in it… but I think its not happening until the end of the year. I know as much as you do.

Bond 25 will see the third appearance from Whishaws interpretation on Q, having first debuted in Skyfall back in 2012.

Danny Boyle is writing the script for the new flick(Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Prior to Bond 25, Sam Sam Mendes was in the directors chair, helming 2015s Spectre, which is the most recent in the franchise, as well as 2012s Skyfall and 2015s Spectre.

Boyle had previously made remarks about being ready to leave the project, but signed on to complete this one last film. He then went on to rewrite the script given to him by the studio.

He had said: Weve got an idea. John Hodge, the screenwriter, and I have got this idea, and John is writing it at the moment. And it all depends on how it turns out. It would be foolish of me to give any of it away.

Thoughts are now turning to the future of Bond – will Idris be involved? (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock, Getty)

Boyle is best known for directing Slumdog Millionaire, for which he won the best director Oscar in 2008, and Trainspotting.

He also was at the helm of Shallow Grave, 127 Hours, Steve Jobs, The Beach and 28 Days Later, while he was the artistic director for the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

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