After Danny Boyle departed the 25th Bond film, one would have thought producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli would go after a director perhaps less known for their distinct style and more for a workmanlike approach in order to meet the release date demands. Well, MGM and producers decided to not go that route, thankfully, and instead have brought on Cary Fukunaga, the director behind Sin Nombre, Jane Eyre, Beasts of No Nation, and the first season of True Detective.
As Daniel Craig goes off to shoot Rian Johnson’s next movie, Fukunaga will have more time to prep as production has been pushed back to March 2019, causing the intended release date of November 2019 to also move back to February 14, 2020, which will be a worldwide bow. “We are delighted to be working with Cary. His versatility and innovation make him an excellent choice for our next James Bond adventure,” said Wilson and Broccoli.
The situation seems like a reverse move for Fukunaga, who had developed the studio tentpole It, only to leave before production began. “No, they thought they couldn’t control me. I would have been a total collaborator. That was the kind of ridiculous part. It was just more a perception. I have never seen a note and been like, Fuck you guys. No way. It’s always been a conversation,” Fukunaga told GQ regarding the experience. “I don’t think I’ve ever been able to make something uncompromising. Like, someone commented on Beasts [of No Nation], ‘Oh, how did it feel to make a movie that’s uncompromising?’ Like, uncompromising? I had to rewrite my entire third act ’cause we didn’t have the money to finish the film. We compromise all over the place.”
Going full circle, Danny Boyle’s new musical comedy starring Lily James, Himesh Patel and Kate McKinnon has been moved up to June 2018, 2019 while Fukunaga’s Netflix series Maniac lands tomorrow.