TGIF Feature: Asian American director chosen for newest James Bond film

CARY JOJI FUKANAGA

ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC franchises in moviedom will have an Asian American director for the first time in its 50 year history.

Cary Joji Fukanaga, 41, director of the first season of True Detective and the Netflix movie Beasts of No Nation will helm the 25th movie of 007, only the second time a person of director has headed a Bond project.

“I’ve wanted to do one of these (Bond films) for a long time, so that’s not new,” Fukunaga told IndieWire. “So right now it’s just kind of dealing with the shock that it’s real and the honor obviously and now the responsibility.”

Fukunaga is slated to begin filming the project — reportedly the final film starring Daniel Craig as the British special agent — next March, targeting a February 2020 release date for the yet-unnamed project..

Fukunaga, who is of Japanese descent, replaces Danny Boyle. The British director quit the film in August due to creative differences.

The choice of Fukunaga is curious. For one, he is American. Will he be able to keep the British nuances typical of Bond films?

Two, he's a critically acclaimed director noted for his grittier films. Will he be able to stay within the formula that has been so successful for so many years? Or will he add sometihng new be breaking the boundaries?

And three, this will be far and away the biggest budget he's had to work with and will he be able to deal with the creative decisions from temperamental and demanding star Daniel Craig, who has the power to provide creative content written into his contract/

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