Danny Boyle has quit as director of the next James Bond film “due to creative differences”, the production team has announced.
A tweet on the official James Bond account said: “Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig today announced that due to creative differences Danny Boyle has decided to no longer direct Bond 25.”
The film – which would have been the second collaboration between Daniel Craig and the Oscar-winning ‘Trainspotting’ director – had been planned for release in November next year.
The pair previously worked together on a short film for the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, which featured 007 in a brief cameo alongside the Queen.
It will be Craig’s fifth appearance as Bond, and would have been Boyle’s first time helming a 007 movie.
Craig’s involvement in the upcoming film had been in doubt ever since ‘Spectre’ wrapped up filming, particularly after the actor infamously claimed he’d rather “slash his wrists” than play 007 again.
Addressing these quotes during a ‘Late Show’ interview in August last year, Craig admitted he “needed a break” before he committed himself to the role again, adding: “There’s no point in making excuses about it. It was two days after I finished shooting the last movie.
“Instead of saying something with style and grace, I gave a really stupid answer.”
When it was announced in May that Boyle would be coming on board, production chiefs said they were “delighted”.
A replacement for the filmmaker has yet to be announced. Prior to his hiring, David Mackenzie, Denis Villeneuve and Yann Demange were reportedly being considered for the job.