Potentially major development where Villeneuve is concerned…
That “Cleopatra”-project is such a wobbly proposition, even if Villeneuve came on board. Variety does mention that Villeneuve would develop this during the time he made DUNE. So maybe DUNE is much closer to production than one thought. Which could rule out his involvement in BOND 25. Unless that one´s first, then DUNE, then CLEOPATRA.
But the main puzzler here for me still is: why was it decided to release BOND 25 in 2019 and not next year?
They must be waiting for a director who is not available right now and can only get on board next year.
So, in my book, Villeneuve will not direct BOND 25 and was only mentioned as Craig´s choice because - well, who doesn´t love Villeneuve right now?
Indeed, they are waiting for somebody. Otherwise the date doesn’t make any sense at all. Since we know it’s not Craig the director would be the natural candidate. They are secretive about specifics, so maybe negotiations are difficult, or more difficult than circumstances would let on. The main part seems to be that Eon are yet again willing to wait for their candidate.
Or they just threw a knife at a calendar and ended up in November 2019…
Perhaps they simply want to take their time with this one, really lock down the script and make it the best they can be. Also, The Rhythm Section is moving forward at the moment as well. Given how hands on the producers tend to be they might want to focus onto that before shifting their attention back to Bond.
I think The Rhythm Section is mainly a vehicle to branch out, keep the troops close and busy and the finger on the industry pulse. Eon are of course professional about this, no doubt about that. But frankly, it wouldn’t make a difference if they produce that film now, next year, or in 2022 even. I really think if they could - or must even - move on BOND 25 they would.
All good points here. I’ve been wondering as well about such a far off date. Usually it’s been done no more than maybe 18 months out. I think the matter of a distribution deal is done, but being finalized and everyone is under a double-secret-probation gag order. Also, I haven’t looked at the details, but who is distributing Rhythm Section? Anyway, all that aside, what are they waiting for? Presuming production would/could begin by say November/December of '18, there’s clearly something else afoot. 
Well, if it were to be released next year, then by this time, it would already have a script, locations would have been scouted, and casting would be starting to fall into place. So my guess is, none of that has happened, ergo they are not in a position to release next year.
It will be Paramount.
Got that after looking it up. Paramount and Warner Brothers have been in the running. Odd I overlooked it. If Paramount can get both the Ryan franchise jump started and finally get the Saint going, combined with the MI franchise and then have Bond land there, they’d become the studio of the spies. If Rhythm Section pans out, it could really be a big shift for them.
Jack Ryan will be a tv series at Amazon next year with Paramount producing. I’ve enjoyed the previous Jack Ryan films save for Shadow Recruit but I think television might be the best place for that character. Despite J. J. Abrams turning the franchise around I’d loved to see Mission: Impossible wrestled away from Tom Cruise and return to tv as well with Jim Phelps restored as the hero and team leader.
It would be a full house if Bond wound up there too.
Interesting that Amazon has thrown it’s hat into the ring when they’ve already team upped with fellow Bond suitor Paramount for the Jack Ryan series. Could we see a similar deal where Amazon and Paramount team up for Bond?
My dream Bond project - a TV series based on the original novels.
90 mins each, like Sherlock. Set during the 50’s. Faithful to each book. Let Tarantino start it off with Casino Royale, like he wanted to do back in the day.
Villeneuve “in discussions” regarding Bond 25…
http://montrealgazette.com/feature/denis-villeneuve-on-the-cutting-edge
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Ooo, exciting stuff.
Here´s the quote:
“It’s true — I’ve been in discussions with (producer) Barbara Broccoli and (actor) Daniel Craig. It’s a magnificent project; I would love to do a James Bond, but I don’t know how it would fit with my current projects. We’ll have to see.”
I just hope EON will not want to delay BOND 25 in order to absolutely get Villeneuve.
Is it possible this is already old hat? He’s ‘been in discussions’ sounds as if it was already a while back; so perhaps Dune is developed far enough for Villeneuve to start work soon and Eon are set to have him after that?
He strikes me as the kind of guy that sticks around until the locked cut of his movie. I’m guessing Dune will be a mammoth shoot and post; perhaps a year? He’d then have to leap straight into Bond, starting with the prep which would be a tight turn around for November 2019, wouldn’t it?
Sure he could prep Bond while cutting Dune, but don’t we want a director who’s time is fully focused on Bond? Screw up the prep and it’s damage control thereafter.
I look forward to the inevitable Villeneuve Bond movie, but if it’s Bond 25, then i won’t him to shoot it before Dune, or further delay Bond’s release (which none of us want).
(edited to correct year 
)
It certainly wouldn’t be ideal to have him rushing through either production. Maybe the idea is something else: have Villeneuve lined up for BOND 26 and let him introduce the new version. After BLADE RUNNER 2049 and the Dune film he would have plenty of experience with the needs of huge productions and genre expectations, which surely wouldn’t hurt.
Then why talk with Craig? He definitely won’t be in 26.
Well…
Edit: what I mean is, there is no good reason why they couldn’t have contacted Villeneuve with the initial idea to see him do BOND 25. And when that fell through they set their sights on somebody else but kept Villeneuve on their shortlist for the one after.
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That is, timewise, the most plausible explanation. Unless DUNE gets delayed, freeing Villeneuve to do BOND 25, he will be on EON´s shortlist to helm one of the next ones, probably with Nolan on that list as well.
And my feeling is: they want an easy to handle director to close out Craig´s tenure, so they can manage the whole enterprise better than with a director who wields his influence power.
Of course, what do I know. Maybe they have set BOND 25 for 2019 because they wait for Sam Mendes.