Danny Boyle, the director behind such key films as Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Slumdog Millionaire was due to direct the as-yet-untitled twenty-fifth Bond movie, but we’ll never know whether the result would have been a ‘Live and Let Die Less Ordinary‘ as EON have formally announced today that Boyle has exited the project of that oft-cited reason of ‘creative differences’. The wording of the initial announcement was short, sharp and to the point, but appears to indicate that the final decision was with Boyle.
Boyle had announced back in May that he’d been set to direct the film, working initially from a screenplay that was being written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (who were also responsible for Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, SkyFall and Spectre) but Trainspotting partner John Hodge was also believed to have provided material. The directing choice always felt like an eclectic one, but Boyle’s subsequent departure is something of a surprise and comes at a time when most of the 007 rumours are about who may replace Daniel Craig – for whom Bond 25 is likely to be his last ‘mission’. In the past week Idris Elba appeared to pour cold water on the notion of him taking over the role.
It is not known if the changes behind the scenes will affect the plans to begin formal filming of the movie in December for a October 2019 release.
