Nicolas Winding Refn became a hot-director once Drive landed some critical buzz and was given the stamp of coolness from the film community. It led to studios talking to him about remaking Logan’s Run, tackling a Wonder Woman film, and making a feature version of the popular crime TV series the Equalizer.
Another big project that he had been rumored for was being considered for the yet untitled Bond 24, which eventually became Spectre. Nicolas has confirmed to The Telegraph (via The Playlist) that he had been approached by Bond producers, even before they went back to consider have Sam Mendes return.
Before Sam Mendes agreed to direct the most recent Bond film Spectre, Refn was one of a few filmmakers approached by Eon Productions to take the reins: he doesn’t elaborate, but says he’s now certain franchise work is not for him. “I just know this way I can do whatever I want, and that outweighs any money anyone can give me.”
Interesting enough, Nicolas is currently developing his own Tokyo-set spy film The Avenging Silence with Bond franchise screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, this might explain why he was approached. The interviewer suggested that Tom Hardy should be apart of it, along with him reuniting with Bond alum Mads Mikkelsen.
It’s a tradition to see a new director for each Bond installment, it was expected Mendes would have returned eventually but not for the next installment. We originally didn’t assume Mendes would have come back, even if Skyfall was a billion dollar hit.
Now that Mendes has pulled himself out of the running for Bond 25 and it looking like Daniel Craig is lining-up projects, producers are already looking at new actors and directors. The most recent reports suggest that Tom Hiddleston is being eyed for 007 with his Night Manager director Susanne Bier also in the mix.
SOURCE: THE TELEGRAPH