With the James Bond franchise about to enter a new phase under director Denis Villeneuve, one of the most respected filmmakers in the series, Martin Campbell, has sent a blunt message: don’t think it over, don’t reinvent it, just make a great Bond movie.
Campbell brought the franchise back to life twice with ‘GoldenEye’ for Pierce Brosnan and ‘Casino Royale’ for Daniel Craig. His interpretation of the character has weight. And now he has made it clear that he thinks Bond’s future lies in respect of its past.
Martin Campbell Thinks Denis Villeneuve Must Tread Carefully With The Next James Bond
As Denis Villeneuve officially takes the directorial chair on ‘James Bond 26‘, the anticipation is high. His work on ‘Blade Runner 2049’, ‘Sicario’, and the Dune trilogy demonstrates his capability of working on a large scale, complicated characters, and world-building. However, Campbell’s message to him and the creative team is surprisingly simple and even a little protective. “Don’t break what isn’t broken. It doesn’t need to be a reboot, it just needs to be a bloody good Bond film,” he told Gold Derby.
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Campbell is sure that Bond survives not due to its ability to reinvent itself every now and then, but because it knows the strength of its own identity: spy fantasy, international intrigue, charismatic danger, and the smooth and unshaken cool of 007 himself. What impressed a lot of fans was the fact that Campbell insisted that ‘GoldenEye’ and ‘Casino Royale’ would remain equally powerful even today. And he’s not wrong. Both movies are eternal. They are grounded, emotionally touching, and sure about their vision of Bond. They are evidence that the franchise succeeds when the basic formula is followed.
A New ‘James Bond’ Era Begins, But The Burden Of Tradition Remains
Villeneuve joins the franchise at a critical point. The departure of Daniel Craig in ‘No Time To Die’ ended one of the most influential Bond runs of all time. Craig’s Bond was tortured, romantic, rough-edged, and very human. He took risks and conquered audiences all over the world. However, with Craig out of the picture, the franchise is now confronted with a well-known dilemma: Who will be the next 007?
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, Tom Holland, Austin Butler, Harris Dickinson, and Jacob Elordi are some of the popular names. However, the producers can easily choose a new face. It reflects how Craig himself was cast, a choice that many questioned initially, but that turned out to be a game-changer. The management of the franchise has changed as well. As producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman come on board, and Amazon now has the creative rights, Bond is changing behind the scenes in a manner it has never done before.
Add Villeneuve, and fans are both excited and nervous. So, Campbell’s warning is needed. He does not mean that Bond must stand in the same place as he was before. He just believes that you do not have to burn the house to redecorate it. Bond’s DNA is strong. Its central themes, loyalty, power, corruption, global politics, seduction, and moral ambiguity are more topical than ever. Campbell even mentioned that the fertile ground of Bond is richer now, considering the condition of the modern world.
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Bond has limitless story potential. Moreover, to Villeneuve, the actual challenge might not be in selecting the next Bond or in plotting action sequences; it is knowing what makes Bond himself. Craig’s last movie earned more than 774 million, which is evidence that Bond is still a very beloved character. Bond fans are notoriously loyal, yet very protective. And in this passage of transition, Campbell speaks on behalf of many of them.
