James Bond 25 director: SHOCK director announced – who is Cary Fukunaga?

Bond 25 is back in the running, with a new name at its helm.

James Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson along with Eon and MGM met with a variety of different directors in the wake of Danny Boyle’s exit.

The differences came when Boyle, despite the studio acquiescing to Boyle’s decision to reject the script written by longtime 007 screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.

Instead, Boyle hired his Trainspotting screenwriter John Hodge to pen the Bond 25 script but Boyle still exited over creative differences, bringing us up to now – with an announcement a replacement has been found.

Who is the new Bond 25 director?

Deadline today reported Eon Productions and MGM have decided on Cary Joji Fukunaga.

Fukunaga will take over directing duties from Danny Boyle for James Bond 25, still retaining Daniel Craig in the eponymous role.

Filming for Bond 25 will start in March, with a projected worldwide release date of February 14, 2020.

The name Fukunaga has flown under the radar of many oddsmakers, who focussed on the better-known names like Christopher Nolan to direct Craig in his final outing as Bond.

Who is Cary Joji Fukunaga?

Cary Joji Fukunaga is best known for his critically acclaimed Netflix movie Beasts of No Nation.

Fukunaga has made a wealth of short movies, as both writer and director.

These include Victoria para Chino in 2004 which screened at the Sundance Film Festival, Kofi in 2008, a black and white movie, and 2012’s Sleepwalking in the Rift.

His first feature-length credit was the movie Sin Nombre, which he both wrote and directed which garnered positive reviews from critics.

Fukunaga’s ambitious adaptation of the classic novel Jane Eyre was well received.

The movie starred Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell and Judi Dench, and the movie’s costume designer was nominated for an Academy Award.

The 2011 Fukunaga adaptation was also nominated for a Goya Award for Best European Film in 2012. 

However, Fukunaga may be best known for his work on Beasts of No Nation, which is based on a novel of the same name by Uzodinma Iweala.

He directed, wrote and filmed Beasts of No Nation which saw Idris Elba stars as Commandant, a lead character.

Fukunaga was later nominated as for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Director, as well as Best Cinematography for Beasts of No Nation, and the movie itself was nominated for best picture. 

Not to mention he directed all eight episodes of the lauded first season of True Detective. 

While he has flown under the radar of those speculating who would helm Bond 25, Fukunaga seems like a wise choice given his exceptional work. 

Bond 25 will be in cinemas on February 14, 2020.