Christopher Nolan and James Bond fans have hit out in their droves after it emerged he was turned down by 007 producers after expressing interest in directing following his 2020 thriller Tenet.
Sources say Nolan approached longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson about helming a Bond film but Broccoli “made clear that no director would have final cut while Bond was under her purview”, according to Variety.
Nolan, who is known for demanding complete creative control over his projects, was unwilling to compromise on this point.
Nolan is renowned for his insistence on having final cut privileges on his films, allowing him complete control over the finished product.
This creative independence has been a hallmark of his directorial career, from Memento to The Dark Knight trilogy.
Broccoli has historically maintained tight control over the Bond franchise, which was started by her father, the late Albert “Cubby” Broccoli.
Christopher Nolan went on to direct Oppenheimer with Cillian Murphy in the leading role
PA
The Bond producers have previously turned down other high-profile directors, including Steven Spielberg who was rejected decades earlier for being “too inexperienced”.
Following the rejection, Nolan instead directed Oppenheimer as his follow-up to Tenet.
Reports on Nolan’s rejection have emerged days after Broccoli decided to give up all creative control to Amazon following its acquisition of MGM.
With Broccoli having since relinquished creative control after denying Nolan final say, some fans have branded the snub as “ludicrous” given his high standing in the world of cinema.
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Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson are leaving Bond’s creative direction behind GETTY“Ludicrous. Give directors final cut,” one fan blasted in response to the news on X, which was echoed by a second who said: “If Nolan wants to do something, you let him cook & then enjoy.”
“You have to wonder what these studios are thinking sometimes…. Worked out well for him though I reckon,” a third weighed in before a fourth commented: “It’s not like he doesn’t have a dozen banger films under his belt as evidence that you can trust him to deliver.”
“Nolan directing Henry Cavill as Bond would have been fire imo,” a fifth suggested while a sixth weighed in: “Imagine telling Nolan he would have no say in Final Cut after all he’s accomplished.” (sic)
Nolan’s biographical thriller about J. Robert Oppenheimer, which he took on after his Bond rejection, starred Cillian Murphy in the title role.
Oppenheimer marked Nolan’s first feature film not distributed by Warner Bros. since Memento.
The director signed with Universal Pictures after disagreeing with Warner Bros.’ decision to simultaneously release their films in theatres and on HBO Max during the pandemic.
Oppenheimer proved to be an extraordinary success both commercially and critically. The film earned nearly $1 billion at the global box office, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 2023.
At the Academy Awards, Oppenheimer triumphed by winning Best Picture while Nolan also secured his first Oscar for Best Director after previous nominations.
This revelation comes amid significant changes for the Bond franchise, with Amazon MGM Studios recently taking full creative control.
After a year of “fraught negotiations”, Broccoli and Wilson have relinquished creative control while retaining a financial stake.
The deal, which still requires regulatory approval in the US and UK, is expected to be finalised sometime this year.
Amazon executive chairman Jeff Bezos is reportedly “keenly interested” in how the tech giant can bring Bond “into the digital age”.
Ludicrous. Give directors final cut
— James Poulos (@jamespoulos) February 26, 2025
Former Amazon Studios chief Roy Price said the move allows Amazon to “control their own destiny”.
Sources familiar with Amazon’s next steps say a new Bond film remains the “top priority” rather than a TV series.
The studio will reportedly first look to attach a producer similar to David Heyman, who shepherded the Harry Potter films.
Meanwhile, Nolan has moved on to his next project with Universal Pictures. He is currently working on The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer’s epic poem starring Matt Damon.
With an estimated budget of $250 million, it is set to be Nolan’s most expensive film to date.