Christopher Nolan was inspired by James Bond movies, and in turn, the Bond films have been inspired by his work. Remember in 2012’s “Skyfall” how Silva (Javier Bardem) allows himself to be captured only for it to be revealed that was his grand plan all along? It’s awfully similar to the Joker (Heath Ledger) in 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” where he also allows himself to be captured only for it to be revealed that was his grand plan all along. That’s not even getting into how “Casino Royale” is basically just applying Nolan’s “Batman Begins” formula to 007.
However, there’s one way Nolan could make Bond his own without redoing “Casino Royale” or “Skyfall,” and that’s by tapping into the director’s love of science fiction.
It’s easy to forget with the Daniel Craig movies, but Bond used to be incredibly goofy. Just look at “Moonraker,” which ends with a laser fight in space. Nolan won’t be silly, but he could take more outlandish ideas like that and ground them in reality to create a stunning spectacle. Just take a look at how Nolan has employed tropes like space travel in “Interstellar” to time travel in “Tenet” to his exploration of dreaming in “Inception,” and imagine one of these ideas finding a home in an actual Bond film.
This would ensure that the next James Bond isn’t just a same ol’, same ol’ situation with a new actor in the tux. Nolan’s Bond would be a whole new take, without going back on what’s been established or taking him back to those goofy ’70s sensibilities.
If nothing else, Christopher Nolan should direct a Bond movie because he clearly wants to. It wouldn’t be solely a paycheck for him. He’s passionate. And while he has his seemingly limitless choice of projects, 007 feels like something he’d jump at.
