It has long been known that Christopher Nolan is a huge James Bond fan and has always harbored a desire to make a Bond movie. Discussions have been had multiple times between Nolan and the Bond producers at Eon.
It was always a case of “so near, yet so far”. The stumbling block was apparently the closely guarded and tightly controlled process and formula that meant no director would be given the final cut. Nolan insists upon it these days. So, unstoppable force met immovable object.
Now, there is a feeling that things might change with Amazon’s deal to secure full creative control of 007 nearing completion. Does this mean Nolan’s time will come thanks to the deep pockets and love of all things Bond of Amazon supremo Jeff Bezos?
In an article in The Wrap, they spoke with a handful of other franchise producers, and all agreed that Amazon should go all out to get Nolan and give him whatever he needs, including time and freedom. One even went as far as to say that conversations are likely to already be taking place to feel out the possibility.
Nolan is currently filming the Greek epic The Odyssey ahead of a release next summer and famously refuses to juggle multiple overlapping projects. Whenever he is asked about his desire to direct Bond, it doesn’t seem to diminish.
He told the BBC that a Bond film remains something he would love to do:
“I’ve loved the Bond films since I was a kid. For me, they’re always about the expansiveness of cinema. The first Bond films set up infinite possibilities about the world they create. I’d love to do a Bond film.”
Many movie fans highlighted 007’s influence on Inception, and Nolan openly admitted the inspiration:
“The Bond influence on the film was very intentional because, for me, growing up with the Bond films – they’ve always stood for grand-scale action.”
Could the stars finally be aligning around this? Nolan’s deal at Universal is non-exclusive and non-binding. As the article suggests, perhaps phone calls have already been made.