Danny Boyle is still filled with deep James Bond regret: “That ship has sailed”
Danny Boyle has claimed he is still full of deep regret over making the decision to step away from directing the most recent instalment in the James Bond franchise.
The filmmaker had originally been attached to direct the movie, but parted ways with the project in 2018 over creative differences with its producers. The eventual product, No Time to Die, was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and released in 2021.
However, in a recent interview with Business Insider, Boyle revealed that he has come to regret this decision, mainly because the “wonderful” screenwriter John Hodge, who had previously worked with the filmmaker on Trainspotting and a number of other films, had written “really good” script.
Boyle explained that his version of the film would have been set in Russia and explored the origins of the world-famous spy, while it would also end with killing the character off, much like what happened in the final cut of No Time to Die.
Of course, Boyle’s creative differences with the film’s producers would no longer stand, as Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson relinquished their control and sold the franchise to Amazon MGM Studios earlier this year, marking an as-yet uncertain future for the film franchise.
Asked whether he would return to the project now, given the takeover of control, Boyle added, however: “That ship has sailed.”
The director has evidently turned his attention to a range of other projects, including the upcoming 28 Years Later starring Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. He will then follow it up with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is set to be released next year, and see Cillian Murphy return to the franchise that originally made him a star.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.