Reporting For Duty
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Categories
Directors who rejected Bond (and those who were rejected - Steven, that's you!)
This kicked off in the B25 thread and I thought it deserved it's own.
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
Turned down Bond:
1. Kathryn Bigelow
2. John Woo
3. Renny Harlin
4. Peter Jackson
5. Danny Boyle
6. Nicolas Winding Refn (who?) http://variety.com/2016/film/news/nicolas-winding-refn-spectre-directing-1201808590/
Turned down by Bond:
1. Steven Spielberg (Cubby, what were you thinking?)
Tarantino was shown the door by EON, and Tony Scott was also shown the door because he insisted Tarantino write the script.
Didn't Cubby turn Spielberg down because he was worried the resulting film would be considered too much of a Spielberg film instead of a Bond film? Given that EON seems now to be seeking big name directors, I'd say he campaigned forty years too soon. (Though to be honest, I think Spielberg would still knock it out of the park, and even though it'll never happen now I'd be overjoyed if he came on board for one.)
Even though he has done Bond twice before, didn't I read on the forums the other day that Campbell turned down another Brosnan installment or two?
Spielberg would have been good for FYEO. Glen took a lot of cues from his Indy efforts from OP onwards.
That's true, I suppose they could be omitted then since in most cases, as you said, they were likely asked back for the next one.
Terence Young worked on the film during the very early stages of pre-production, including early drafts of the screenplay. However, an agreement could not be reached regarding the terms of his contract, and he left the production.
I would say that's best since nothing in his filmography was action-oriented, but then again, neither had Forster and that film more than delivered in the action department for me.
Who's Roger Mitchell?
Michell*. He directed Notting Hill, Changing Lanes, and My Cousin Rachel.
He also worked with Daniel Craig on the underrated Enduring Love.
Didn't know they asked Bigelow. Hopefully they'll ask her again at some point and she'll reconsider.
For those who rejected the job there has to have been a reasonably well sourced claim that they were actually offered it and turned it down. I don't think contracts necessarily need to have been drafted - just clear expressions of interest made by the producers and a 'no thanks' from the director.
For those directors who've made overtures and been rebuffed by the producers I think it's usually a matter of public record, because they've often spoken about it themselves.
Doesn't Greengrass fall into a separate category of those who don't want it and weren't offered it. Or am I missing something and was Babs chasing him for a while?
1) John Woo was offered? I'm glad he turned it down. I enjoy his movies but he would've been bad for Bond.
2) Steven Spielberg wanted to direct Bond and he was turned down?!?! That had to of been when he was a fairly unknown director because he could make a great Bond adventure.
And then he went and did Raiders instead. I think that's something fans should always keep in mind when they're slagging off BB and acting like Cubby was perfect.
Yes, Cubby didn't want Spielberg anyway, probably for the reason you stated, although that British director rule has been broken since.
I believe it was TWINE - but I heard this was the reverse and that EON were considering Jackson after Barbara Broccoli saw Heavenly Creatures but then she cooled on the idea and stopped pursuing Jackson after she saw his next film The Frighteners which she didn't like. But then again maybe they went after him again after he did Lord of the Rings?
That's what I've heard as well. I don't know that Peter Jackson ever had an opportunity to actually turn Bond down.
With Bond 20 the producers whant to make there Mi2 and Spy Game. There ask first editor / wrong editor of mi2 and who edit Spy Game. There should choose for second editor of Mi2 Stuart Baid, but focus be on Spy Game in this choose. There correct this for Casino Royale, but it happend again and Stuart Baid was to bissy with Vantage point and ask back for Skyfall. In 2003 John Woo made Paycheck who in my opnion looks moost close to Die Another Day.
For Bond 23 and 24 i think there whant to make there TDK / Arrow version of Bond. Big difrence i think with whant to make Mi2 i can understand. Movie be strong as Twine. DAD whas Mgm/Fox movie and i think Fox think to comercial. After it the movie was over promoted and there be a lot of presuare because it was 20th movie. And there be a bit to quike with P&W as solo writers.
But with Skyfall and Spectre there focus to much on hype and comercial. Everything must darker and i think there doing this because there afraid there real story no be get (In specialy the 21+ people who whant to much or don't have respect that i have when i was 19 or 22 mixed up with things we must accepted now).
Comments fron media and on this forum on QOS proofs that. Spectre who is closer to QOS is loved by media as skyfall and DAD. But there be played, like happend a lot with Daniel his era. Tomorrow Never Dies plot in real life again. Oh.. what backlash some people and media wil possible get with Bond 25. Whyle iam suprised a bit about media on Spectre and mabey there wil be to positive again know also that some media get horny / hongry sometimes. Skyfall, Sam Mendes, Nolan, Skyfall, Casino Royale, Nolan, Skyfall. : done..
But do we turn it down ? I think i prefer the filming, editor (duo) or writers duo. I realy missing film edit projects i did. I specialy now. My mother and her house, my work (who iam afraid i wil lose) and finaly my first friend (not my girlfriend) are only things lived for. My brother having his own life now and can't help me any more. I am not happy in my own house where i must life for 5 days a week. I whant to escape more then ever. I need new hobby and stil searching finding a way to this and new work. I always very bored on scool and i walk against same things. Wiser of course, but don't know how.
With my fanart and some of my writings about our shared love for Bond, i agree with Uncle Ben from Spider-Man.
That would have been something! Although, it might have ended up like a Hitchcock film featuring the character of James Bond, rather than a James Bond film directed by Hitchcock.
It's in this Indie Wire article, scroll down to Y where is mentions him possibly directing Mission Impossible 3 and that there was a similar situation with Pierce's debut that never panned out.
As the article said, good job as what he did instead was Se7en, the rest is history as they say.
https://www.indiewire.com/2014/09/from-a-z-a-guide-to-the-lost-unmade-films-of-david-fincher-271772/
Interestingly enough I'm currently working on my version of SPECTRE which is in its first draft and for a bit of fun I've recast one of the actors and suggested that David Fincher directs my version.
Peter's already seen some of it and has offered some proper encouragement, it started out as a bit of a polish but as it's gone on I've started to divert away from the finished film quite significantly in some aspects. I'm still tying things together like in the film but far more convincingly and using all 3 films to do it and giving Quantum of Solace it's due.
I'd like to share it with you all when it's finished.
Hopefully that's something that some of you might be interested in seeing. It's quite a way off yet and I have no experience script writing.
It came from wanting to come to terms with my frustration of seeing my favourite era of Bond being taken off the tracks quite significantly.
I know this isn't shared by all, although I know some are of the same feeling as me.