Quentin Tarantino has often expressed his interest in working with established franchises, and putting his own spin on them. In a recent interview with Deadline, Tarantino revealed his unsuccessful attempt to put his unique spin on the James Bond novel “Casino Royale” before the Daniel Craig adaptation. However, he was thwarted by the Broccoli family, long-time producers of the Bond franchise, who had already secured the exclusive rights to Ian Fleming’s works. Although Tarantino won’t be directing a Bond film anytime soon, he shared his ideas for the franchise’s future, suggesting a return to the original stories while maintaining fidelity to Fleming’s vision.
As reported by Indie Wire, Tarantino’s desire to tackle “Casino Royale” with his distinct Tarantino-esque style was shot down when he discovered that the Broccoli family held the exclusive rights to all of Ian Fleming’s works.
He envisioned a 1960s setting, a single Bond film, and a departure from the traditional Bond series format. Of course, we could imagine how much gore would also be inserted into the film.
Tarantino also expressed his desire for future 007 movies to adhere more closely to the original plots of Ian Fleming’s books. Tarantino suggested remaking the original stories instead of starting from scratch with each new actor playing Bond. He highlighted the classic names and adventures featured in Fleming’s novels and emphasized the opportunity to bring these narratives to life faithfully. By honoring the source material, the franchise could offer audiences brand new Bond experiences while staying true to the essence of the beloved books.
Will Tarantino ever get a shot at the franchise? It seems like he could if the Broccoli family sold their rights or when their contract is up for the rights to do so. It should also be mentioned that Quentin didn’t mention if he asked if he could co-direct, co-write, or co-produce it, which may be better than the family fully giving him reign; but from the response of the owners of the franchise, it’s safe to say that they don’t want him in it.
