The Night Manager’s Susanne Bier is being eyed to replace Sam Mendes as the next James Bond director.
The Danish filmmaker, who directed Tom Hiddleston in the BBC spy-thriller series, is reportedly high up on 007 producer Barbara Broccoli’s shortlist of potential candidates to step into Mendes’ shoes, after he announced it was "time" the franchise took a new course without him.
Sources told RadioTimes.com that Bier is among a "handful" of people up for the prestigious filmmaking role.
Sam recently admitted he had "loved every second" of directing the last two Bond movies, ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Spectre’, but feels his time with the franchise is over.
Asked whether he would he stay on to helm the next installment after his pal and Bond actor Daniel Craig reportedly turned down £68 million to play the suave spy in two more movies, Mendes told reporters at the Hay Festival of Literature: "It was an incredible adventure. I loved every second of it, but think it’s time for somebody else."
It’s not known whether Mendes was offered a cash sum to stay with the franchise, however, if Bier – whose other credits include the successful ‘John le Carré’ series – takes up the post she will be the first woman to direct a Bond movie ever.
What’s more, it’s hoped she would be reunited with Hiddleston on the big screen, since he is widely considered the frontrunner to replace Craig as James Bond.
Speaking about the 35-year-old British star earlier this year, she said he was someone you could "trust" and he’s "fun and elegant and charming"
She said: "There’s a certain incredibly enigmatic quality to his eyes. You aren’t sure you can trust him, but you are sure there is a pain there that he doesn’t show. He’s so immaculate and fun and elegant and charming, and there is somewhere inside of him a painfulness, which I think for most women, is irresistible."
The Night Manager’s Susanne Bier to helm James Bond?
