Bond 25: Denis Villeneuve On 3 Man Director Shortlist

Don't hold your breath for Christopher Nolan to direct the next Bond movie. It might be one of those glorious ideas you hold out hope for, but by the look of it, he's not even on the shortlist for consideration to take over Sam Mendes.

And the reason we know that? Because that shortlist has emerged.

According to Deadline, the exciting sounding candidates to take over from the outgoing director are Yann Demange, Denis Villeneuve and David Mackenzie. All good names, but just imagine Villeneuve taking the job...

Variety have suggested that White Boy Rick director Yann Demange is the frontrunner of the three, and also state that Daniel Craig is likely to return too. Which isn't all that surprising, despite his malcontent comments around the release of Spectre - he has a contract to honour, after all.

Demange is best known for the exceptional 71 - with Jack O'Connell - and has the hotly anticipated White Boy Rick with Matthew McConaughey in the pipeline. Villeneuve meanwhile has the small matter of the Blade Runner sequel and the Dune remake, and Hell Or High Water's Mackenzie has recently signed on for Outlaw King, the story of Scottish king Robert the Bruce.

Deadline say all three have had meetings, though quite how Villeneuve would be able to commit to the tight filming schedule remains to be seen. Still great to hear his name in there all the same. Which would you most like to see hired?

Bond 25 is slated for release on November 8th, 2019.