Now that James Bond 25 has a release date and Daniel Craig reportedly in line to return as the headlining agent, Eon Productions and MGM can focus on finding a director for the film. And as luck would have it, they are looking at three names. According to various reports, Yann Demange, Denis Villeneuve, and David Mackenzie are among the top names to direct the film. More on the story below.

Deadline says that producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have met with Demange, Villeneuve, and Mackenzie. While the three are the frontrunners for the gig, the report also adds that Dunkirk director Christopher Nolan and Baby Driver director Edgar Wright are two names that are also being floated around.

However, the film does not have a distributor yet. Sony’s contract to distribute the franchise’s films ended after Spectre, and now the rights to distribute the next James Bond films are up in the air. Those close to the situation reportedly say, “Sony, Warner Bros, Annapurna, Fox and Universal are all pursuing distribution rights to the franchise.” But Eon still has a long time to figure all of that out as James Bond 25 isn’t set to hit theaters until November of 2019.

Demange is a French director whose 71, starring Jack O’Connell, has garnered some very positive reviews. Most would agree that it is powerfully acted and directed. Demange is currently shooting White Boy Rick with Matthew McConaughey.

Villeneuve’s name is probably the most recognizable of the three frontrunners. The director has put himself on the map with films like Sicario and Arrival, both critically acclaimed films. He is currently working on Blade Runner 2049, starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. However, it seems very unlikely that he would take on the sequel considering that he is signed on to direct a new Dune movime, which would create a major scheduling conflict for him.

David Mackenzie’s Hell Or High Water earned itself four Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Supporting Actor. The neo-Western crime thriller is unanimously liked by critics and was the definitive sleeper hit of 2016. So it is easy to see why Eon may have their eyes on MacKenzie.

However, reports say Demange might have a slight edge over everyone. While he is the least known of the three, his filmography pretty much tells us that he is ready for the job. As for Nolan or Wright, they would be more likely to be directors of a Bond film if it was going to be rebooted. Makes sense as they probably don’t want to be tied down to a Bond world that they cannot expand upon themselves.

The still-untitled James Bond 25 is scheduled to open in theaters on November 8, 2019.

[Source: Deadline]