Edgar Wright Says He'd Pitch His James Bond Film Idea To The Producers If They Ask

While the Marvel Studios films seem to be the biggest franchise on the planet right now, able to wrangle some of the best filmmakers working today, the MCU can’t hold a candle to the James Bond franchise when it comes to the caliber of filmmaker absolutely desperate to join. We’ve heard from folks like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve, who have both made it abundantly clear they would jump at the chance to tackle 007. And now, you can add Edgar Wright to the list, as well, and he even has a pitch ready to go. 

Speaking on the Happy. Sad. Confused. podcast, Wright talked about the possibility of directing a James Bond film and why he considers the opportunity one of the most prized in all of filmmaking. 

READ MORE: Barbara Broccoli Doesn’t “Have Any Plans” To Produce Spinoffs Of The James Bond Franchise In The Future

“You have to understand, in the U.K., a James Bond film is like the equivalent of England being in the finals,” said Wright. “There’s such national pride for Bond.”

And if he’s presented with the chance to speak with Barbara Broccoli and the other Bond producers, Wright said he’s ready to go with his own take on the franchise. 

Daniel Craig has made such an indelible mark on that franchise that I think you have to go in a slightly different direction,” he explained. “Because I don’t think there’s anything to be gained by continuing in the same vein, and I think it would certainly be interesting to try and…I mean, I do have a take [on Bond], and if they ever ask me, I’ll pitch it to them [laughs], so I’m not going to say it, but when I see some of the names being bandied around, I can’t quite see it and they seem like Daniel Craig II.”

Names that Wright loves, but thinks they’d be too obvious choices following too closely in the footsteps of Craig, an idea he thinks they should avoid? Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender. “Listen, this is not a knock on Tom Hardy or Michael Fassbender, but when I hear their names bandied about, I’m like, ‘Ahh, to me that’s too similar to Craig,'” Wright said. “Cause we’ve just seen a really great tough Bond.”

READ MORE: Denis Villeneuve Would “Deeply Love” To Make A James Bond Movie & Calls Daniel Craig The “Ultimate” 007

Wright says he has a theory and analogy for the way he thinks Bond should go. That Bond is either milk chocolate, a lighter touch, or dark chocolate, a darker, more serious consideration of the character. Craig is obviously dark chocolate and he thinks they should always alternate and thus go towards milk next.

“Here’s my Bond theory: Dark chocolate, Sean Connery, milk chocolate, Roger Moore, dark chocolate, Timothy Dalton, milk chocolate, Pierce Brosnan, dark chocolate, Daniel Craig. It’s crying out for another milk chocolate Bond, that’s my theory,” the filmmaker said.

Wright insinuated that he’s suggested as much to the producers of the Bond franchise— that they need to go in a different direction. Asked if he’d give the producers a pitch he said, with a laugh, “Look, [Barbara Broccoli] has my email.”