Filmmaker Danny Boyle has revealed the plot of his canceled James Bond film. The 65-year-old Oscar winner had initially been set to direct No Time to Die but stepped away from the most recent 007 release early into its pre-production. Boyle was replaced by Cary Fukunaga, who managed to deliver a reasonably well-received conclusion to the super spy saga. The film marked the end of Daniel Craig’s terms as Bond and opened up a new era for the famed Ian Fleming character and the 55-year-old film franchise.
Over the years, choosing the right filmmaker to take on a Bond film has become increasingly important. The decision of who will be behind the camera is almost as hotly contested as who will play the British secret agent. With his impressive resume of hit films like Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire, and 28 Days Later, Boyle seemed the perfect choice to take on the challenge of James Bond. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t meant to be. Not a lot has been known about Boyle’s decision to step away from the franchise, only that he left the beleaguered No Time to Die production after producers reportedly disagreed with his vision for Bond.
Now for the first time, Boyle has directly spoken about his plans for Bond and how it would have done something different with the iconic IP. According to Indie Wire, Boyle acknowledged that his time on No Time to Die was marred by his uncertainty over whether or not he should be involved with a franchise. Citing that he “really wanted to do something different with it,” Boyle and screenwriter John Hodge had begun work on something that involved a Russian setting and in which Bond’s origins were explored:
“Weirdly — it would have been very topical now — it was all set in Russia, which is of course where Bond came from, out of the Cold War. It was set in present-day Russia and went back to his origins, and they just lost, what’s the word… they just lost confidence in it. It was a shame really.”
Previous reports had speculated that Boyle parted ways with Eon Productions after his suggestion to kill off Bond didn’t go over with producer (and Eon heir) Barbara Broccoli. And while this still could have been a major issue, it’s clear that something more than an exploration of Bond’s origins was wanted from No Time to Die. As it stands, Fukunaga delivered a unique iteration of Bond, one which has left fans guessing what exactly is next for the famed franchise. The decision to kill the character off reportedly had been in the works since the release of 1995’s GoldenEye, which means that it was something else about Boyle’s vision that didn’t line up with what producers had in mind.
It could also be that a Bond film set in Russia didn’t quite feel intriguing enough for Eon. After all, the franchise has become known for its globe-hopping settings over the years. Boyle is right that James Bond did get his start during the Cold War era, but even the earliest 007 films showcased the super spy in exotic tropical locales and various cities around the world. A single location paired with an examination of Bond’s origins might not have been enough to keep audiences intrigued, and at this point in Bond’s legacy, that’s a vital ingredient.
