James Bond Producers Allegedly Turned Down Christopher Nolan, Who Ended Up Making Oppenheimer Instead

Following the surprising news that Amazon has assumed full creative control of the James Bond franchise, with long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping aside, a new report details the next steps—and reveals a surprising rejection of a high-profile director.

While speculation swirls about a potential Bond TV series, Variety reports that a new Bond film remains Amazon's top priority. The next step, according to the report, involves finding a new producer. David Heyman, known for his cohesive vision on the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, is reportedly the type of producer Amazon is seeking.

The report also alleges that Christopher Nolan expressed interest in directing a Bond film after Tenet, but Broccoli, maintaining her then-control over the franchise, refused, stating that no director would have final cut approval under her leadership. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, a nearly $1 billion global box office success that garnered numerous accolades, including Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.

The question of the next Bond actor remains a hot topic. While names like Tom Hardy (Venom), Idris Elba (MCU), James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven)—previously rumored as a frontrunner—are frequently mentioned, Henry Cavill (Superman, The Witcher) is the clear fan favorite.

According to Variety, Amazon is unable to make any hiring decisions regarding Bond until the completion of its acquisition of the Broccoli-Wilson deal, expected sometime this year. This follows reports describing a tense stalemate between the Broccoli family and Amazon, leaving the future of the franchise temporarily on hold.

The conflict stemmed from Barbara Broccoli’s previous retention of creative control over the Bond franchise, including casting decisions, and Amazon’s acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in a $8.45 billion deal in 2021, which granted them the rights to release Bond films. This power struggle, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, effectively left the Bond franchise in limbo.

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