James Bond
franchise director Martin Campbell shares a word of warning about believing any 007 rumors. After Daniel Craig bid the 007 franchise fare well with No Time To Die in 2021, it's been unclear who will replace him. In fact, there's been relatively little official movement on the announced James Bond 26 beyond confirmation that it will eventually happen, but rumors surrounding the project, which does not yet have an expected release window, continue to run rampant.
In a recent interview with ScreenRant for his new film, Cleaner, Campbell, who directed both GoldenEye (1995) and Casino Royale (2006), addresses a rumor that he is a top choice to direct Bond 26. The director denies the rumor and uses the opportunity to comment on the rumor culture more generally about Bond, saying that the vast majority of these types of claims are entirely false. He also seemingly makes reference to Cavill's recent leaked 007 audition tape. Check out Campbell's comment below:
I'm sure that's bullsh*t. Look, anything you actually hear about Bond, whether it be the casting, anything you read online, don't believe a word of it. I've been through this on two Bond films, right, and you'd be amazed about the stuff that comes out. None of it is true. I mean, almost a hundred percent wrong, honestly. And I sometimes read, there's a hilarious thing I watched on YouTube, which was Henry Cavill's Casino Royale audition. Well, it's bullsh*t. I mean, he's doing an audition, but it was kind of for GoldenEye, it had nothing to do with Casino. They make this bullsh*t up all the time, and it's rubbish, quite frankly.
A Lot Has Been Said About The Next 007 Movie (But Not Officially)
A handful of actors are reported to be top contenders to take up the mantle of Bond after Craig, with Aaron Taylor Johnson having widely been positioned as the frontrunner. A report from The Sun last spring claimed that he had actually formally been offered the role and that production was seemingly imminent. Little became of this claim, however, and a more recent report from The Wall Street Journalactually painted a picture of turmoil behind-the-scenes, with franchise producer Barbara Broccoli said to be butting heads with Amazon, the new owner of MGM.
James Bond's Casino Royale has been adapted to the screen three times - here's an explanation of each version and how they compare to one another.
Though it's now clear that much of what has been said about Taylor-Johnson may not have been accurate, Campbell's comment suggests that there are far more inaccuracies out there. The report about Broccoli's frustration with Amazon is certainly worth questioning as well. Campbell's comment about Cavill is curious, however, as he could be referring to Cavill's recent 007 audition tape leak. Cavill was only 12 years old when GoldenEye came out, so it's not clear how he would have been in any way involved in that film, as Campbell says.
Both Casino Royale and GoldenEye were critical and commercial successes, and both marked the first installment for new Bond actors, with Craig for the former and Pierce Brosnan for the latter.
Where To Get 007 Information From
Campbell comments on the Bond rumor mill affirm that, when it comes to what is to be believed, official statements from Eon or the Broccoli family is the way to go. Reporting can certainly be useful and can shed light on aspects of a film that those involved would prefer not to make public, but it can also be inaccurate or incomplete. A rumor is in a separate category all on its own, and these usually catch fire on social media and often hail from unreliable sources with no real journalism involved.
It's been four years since the No Time To Die ending and Craig's farewell, and it often feels like another movie is no closer to actually happening. For now, it looks like James Bond fans will just have to trust the process and hope that more official information comes soon,
The James Bond franchise centers on the fictional British Secret Service agent James Bond, also known by his code number 007. Created by writer Ian Fleming in 1953, Bond has been featured in novels, films, television, radio, comics, and video games. The film series, produced by Eon Productions, is one of the longest-running and highest-grossing franchises in history, known for its blend of espionage, action, and sophisticated style.
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