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

Following the surprising announcement of Amazon's acquisition of full creative control over the James Bond franchise, displacing long-time producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, a recent report details the next steps for 007 – and reveals a surprising rejection of a prominent director.

While speculation abounds regarding a potential Bond television series, Variety reports that a new Bond film remains Amazon's top priority. Their initial focus will reportedly be on securing a new producer. The report suggests that David Heyman, known for his consistent vision in producing the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films, is the type of producer Amazon seeks.

The report also claims that Christopher Nolan expressed interest in directing a Bond film after Tenet, but Broccoli, retaining creative control at the time, refused, citing her policy against granting any director final cut privileges. Nolan subsequently directed Oppenheimer, a box office behemoth that earned nearly $1 billion globally and garnered numerous accolades, including Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.

Who’d You Pick as the Next Bond?

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The question of the next Bond actor remains a significant point of fan discussion. While contenders such as Tom Hardy (Venom), Idris Elba (MCU), James McAvoy (Professor X), Michael Fassbender (Magneto), and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kraven) – previously rumored as a frontrunner – are all being considered, Henry Cavill (Superman, The Witcher) is the clear fan favorite.

According to Variety, Amazon's ability to make any hiring decisions regarding Bond is contingent upon the completion of its acquisition of the Broccoli-Wilson interests, expected later this year. This follows reports of a tense standstill between the Broccoli family and Amazon, described as an “ugly” stalemate that has put the future of the franchise “on pause.” The conflict stems from Barbara Broccoli's previous firm control over the creative direction of the Bond films, including casting decisions, which now rests with Amazon following its $8.45 billion acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 2021.

Neither Amazon nor Eon Productions have yet commented publicly.