Bond 25's New Director Can Solve 007's Many Problems

With the announcement that True Detective’s Cary Joji Fukunaga will take over from Danny Boyle as director of Idris Elba speculation going into overdrive.

It was eventually confirmed that Craig would be back for his final outing, with Trainspotting director Slumdog Millionaire, was unwilling to adhere to the demands of the Broccoli family, the long-time producers of the franchise. It’s also been rumored that Boyle’s choice for the villain had been vetoed by the producers. Losing Boyle was a major blow to the franchise, as the director seemed like the perfect fit for the job: An award-winning auteur with experience in the studio system who could handle big budgets and massive set pieces.

A job like directing a Bond movie, or indeed any new addition to a major franchise, is a tricky one for any director and the production team looking for the right hire. It’s a job that requires immense skill and experience on such a scale but also a willingness to surrender one’s own creative vision to the horror of studio notes. One of the reasons Marvel and DC hire lesser-known indie darlings like Patty Jenkins to direct films is because, while they’ll bring their own flair to the work, they don’t have the major industry clout to talk back. The Bond 25 job had all these problems and more, especially since Boyle, a man used to dealing with big studios, decided to tap out. Directing a Bond movie may be a dream job for some, but it may not be worth it for those unwilling to play the game.

These circumstances meant most critics were predicting the safest choice possible for the job – the equivalent of tapping in Ron Howard to direct Cary Joji Fukunaga.

This Page: Why Cary Fukunaga Is Oddly Suited For James Bond
Page 2: How Cary Fukunaga Fixes Bond 25 Problems

Cary Fukunaga is an Auteur (Like Boyle)

Cary Fukunaga and Woody Harrelson on True Detective Season 1 Set

Fukunaga is arguably best-known as the Emmy winning director of the first season of Maniac, with Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. While the director has his fans, he wasn’t a name many had even shortlisted for the Bond 25 job, much less predicted to be chosen by the Broccoli family. In a press release, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson praised Fukunaga's "versatility and innovation". Filming will begin Pinewood Studios on 4th March 2019, with a release date of February 14, 2020.

Producers are showing an immense dedication to Fukunaga. On top of being a left-field choice for the job, he will also be the first American to direct a Bond movie. Given the franchise’s stalwart dedication to Britishness, or at the very least a refusal to adhere to Hollywood standards, this is a big deal. Clearly, they see Fukunaga as being worth it, and with good reason.

While Fukunaga’s body of work is relatively small (three feature films and two seasons of TV), his critical acclaim has been strong. His first film, Sin Hombre, won the directing award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, and for his season of Beasts of No Nation – and his ability to get career-best performances out of his ensembles. He’s not the safe choice for a Bond movie but he also wasn’t the safe choice for Jane Eyre and True Detective. That may be why this was such a right choice for the Bond team to make.

Cary Fukunaga Will Accept Studio Notes (Unlike Boyle)

Idris Elba and Cary Fukunaga on Beasts of No Nation set

While many have praised Fukunaga's distinct and auteur-driven approach as a director, the man himself has been hesitant to accept such labels. In a 2015 interview with IndieWire, he discussed the "tricky notion" of authorship in film-making, saying, "The crazy thing about auteur theory is that even the early auteurs, most weren’t writing their own movies. It’s always been a collaborative medium. That doesn’t even make sense."

Fukunaga has already walked away from one major project when creative differences became too much. He was the original director of Stephen King’s IT and is still credited as a screenwriter on the 2017 movie. However, he’s also expressed a willingness to listen to what his highers-up have to say on any given project. In a recent interview with GQ, Fukunaga said "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, F*ck you guys. No way. It's always been a conversation."

He went on to say that this is doubly true when working with Netflix’s mysterious algorithm, which influenced micro creative decisions on Maniac and may be a better primer for the old-school studio system than even a Marvel or DC movie. It’s certainly ideal preparation for making a Bond movie, given the franchise’s historical lineage and decades-old formula that hasn’t evolved all that much since its origins.

The Broccoli family and assorted Bond producers know exactly what they want from a Bond movie and they’re unlikely to let even their chosen directors stray too far from the formula. There will always be gadgets, Bond girls, big set pieces, a classic opening theme, the one-liners and an Aston Martin to die for. Certain things have evolved but audiences still know the basics of a Bond movie when they see them. That’s something Fukunaga will have to deal with, and he seems very willing to do so.

Page 2 of 2: How Cary Fukunaga Fixes Bond 25 Problems

Cary Fukunaga Will Offset A Purvis & Wade Script

As Sam Mendes, Marc Forster and Purvis and Wade were rehired and began work afresh.

Some critics have accused the duo of being detrimental to the success of the franchise. While Casino Royale and Skyfall both took Bond in new directions and felt refreshing in the context of the Bond mythos, both Quantum of Solace and Spectre felt lifeless by comparison, as well as major steps back for established character progression. They were also responsible for Die Another Day, often categorized as the worst Bond film ever. Purvis and Wade clearly know how to work within the confines of the Bond world as well as to the producer’s specifications, and the chances are they’ll stick around longer than any director attached to the franchise.

That all means Fukunaga will have to either offset a script’s weaker parts or figure out how to work well with the duo. Of course, Fukunaga is the director who managed to deal with the notoriously difficult writer of True Detective, Nic Pizzolatto, so he’s used to such collaborations.

Cary Fukunaga Simply Gets Bond 25 Moving

It seemed inevitable that the release date for Bond 25 would be moved once Boyle left the project, and many feared the movie would be stuck in pre-production limbo. Fukunaga’s hiring gets people excited for Bond again – check out the many franchise doubters who are now enthusiastic about its future thanks to this news – but crucially, his involvement gets the project back on its feet.

In a franchise age where there are multiple superhero movies a year and the market is crowded with big-budget spectacles, Bond is more old-fashioned, but it’s already been three years since Spectre and Annapurna Pictures, who paid top dollar for co-distribution rights in the USA). Clearly, something needed to happen.

A new director, one who has people excited, and an achievable release date keeps Bond moving forward. This may seem like a pretty benign thing but given discussions on whether James Bond can even be relevant in 2018, it matters that the franchise can still keep going for reasons beyond nostalgia.

Nothing else is known about Cary Joji Fukunaga’s tenure as Bond 25 director beyond shooting dates and the return of Craig. It remains to be seen what focus the story will take – will James Bond movie, Fukunaga has audiences newly enthused. That alone helps solve a multitude of Bond 25’s problems. It may very well be that the risky choice for director is ultimately the safest bet possible for the franchise.