Denis Villeneuve has officially been confirmed as the director for the upcomingBond 26, and the decision took many fans of the franchise by surprise.Villeneuve’s filmographyleans heavily towards elevated science fiction above all else, and that’s very different from the typical grounded thrillers thatJames Bondfans are used to.
However, there are still plenty of examples in Villeneuve’s catalog that prove he’s the man for the job when it comes to making a fresh, originalBondmovie. Although he’s fairly new to the genre,his works have clearly been inspired byJames Bondover the years, and there’s one particular movie from the previous decade that serves as a fitting audition forVilleneuve’s new take onBond.
Sicario Is An Underrated Political Action Movie
The Film Employs Many Tricks That Villeneuve Could Bring To Bond
Sicariois rarely considered amongDenis Villeneuve’s best movies, but it has every right to be. Starring Benicio del Toro, Emily Blunt, and Josh Brolin,this gritty action movie follows the ongoing conflict between the FBI and the Mexican cartel over their operations at the U.S. border.Its grounded, down-to-earth narrative is very different from the typical sci-fi and fantasy elements of Villeneuve’s works.
While movies likeArrivalandBlade Runner 2049have the slick visuals and dynamic camerawork that audiences have come to expect fromJames Bondblockbusters,it’s quieter pictures likeSicariothat really prove how much Villeneuv'’s storytelling abilities have been influenced and crafted by classic thrillers like the earlyBondmovies.Villeneuve has repeatedly expressed his love for James Bond, and it’s never been clearer than inSicario.
Villeneuve Should Bring Sicario’s Gritty Style To James Bond
The Director Could Reinvent The Bond Franchise
Whileit’s too early to predict exactly what Villeneuve’sBond 26is going to look like, it certainly makes sense to look back at the director’s filmography to get an idea of the kind of style that he’s going to bring to the project. IfSicariois anything to judge by,Amazon’s newJames Bondfranchisewill be in very strong hands.
Bondclearly needs to separate itself from the previous installments to forge its own identity going forward, and a much darker, grittier method of storytelling seems like a very promising way to do this.There’s obviously a reason that Amazon decided to bring Villeneuve on board forBond 26,and their decision to hire such a famous auteur speaks volumes to the studio’s intentions.
Rebooting and revitalizingJames Bondfor a new generation is the primary goal of this new franchise, so it can’t just be a repeat of Daniel Craig’s era — orany of the James Bond actorswho came before him.Bond 26needs to have a clear identity of its own, andSicario’s politically charged, blood-soaked storytelling would be a fascinating new route.
