Cary Fukunaga has been announced as the director of James Bond’s 25th big screen outing, after Danny Boyle’s departure was confirmed last month.
In a statement posted on Twitter, it was also confirmed that the film’s release date has been pushed back to February 2020.
Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig announced today that #Bond25 will begin filming at Pinewood Studios on 4 March 2019 under the helm of director, Cary Joji Fukunaga with a worldwide release date of 14 February 2020. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/Oyzt826sXd
— James Bond (@007) September 20, 2018
“Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig announced today that #Bond25 will begin filming at Pinewood Studios on 4 March 2019 under the helm of director, Cary Joji Fukunaga with a worldwide release date of 14 February 2020″, an official tweet confirmed.
The 41-year-old American director came to significance with 2009’s Sin Nombre, before winning huge acclaim for directing the first series of True Detective – which starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson.
In 2015, he also helmed the acclaimed Beasts of No Nation, which starred Idris Elba as a sadistic warlord.
He followed with a foray into horror as the director of It, before opting to leave the project over budget restraints.
Most recently, Fukunaga directed Netflix’s dark comedy Maniac, which stars Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. It is set for release tomorrow.
Fukunaga’s appointment comes a month after Danny Boyle was sacked from the film over creative differences.
According to reports, Boyle clashed with producer Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig over the “ridiculous” idea of killing James Bond.
“It would also leave it open for a twist in the next instalment — either Bond hadn’t died or there could be a Doctor Who-esque regeneration with a new actor.”
It was also reported that producers weren’t impressed after viewing the film’s script, which focused heavily on recent political tensions with Russia and a “modern-day Cold War”.