Danny Boyle has confirmed he will direct the 25th James Bond film, and plans to begin principal photography by the end of the year.
He's working with screenwriter John Hodge, with whom he collaborated on Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, The Beach and other films, to develop the script.
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“We’ve got an idea, John Hodge, the screenwriter, and I have got this idea, and John is writing it at the moment," Boyle told Metro. "And it all depends on how it turns out. It would be foolish of me to give any of it away.”
Boyle's announcement ends intense speculation about who might helm the 25th installment of the action-spy franchise. Christopher Nolan dismissed rumors last month that he could take the reins. Of course, who would play the iconic 007 seemed an open question for some time, after Daniel Craig famously said in late 2015 that he'd rather "slash [his] wrists" than return to the role. However, we walked back those comments, and in August 2017 finally confirmed he'd star as Bond once again.
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It was previously reported that Bond franchise veterans Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (Skyfall, Spectre) were writing the script for the 25th film, but Boyle's comments suggest he and Hodge will start from scratch.
The next James Bond film is scheduled for release on Nov. 8, 2019.