Shortlist of directors emerges for Bond 24

Earlier today First Showing suggested that Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn (Bronson, Drive) was under consideration to take over the reigns from outgoing Skyfall director Sam Mendes for the next instalment in the blockbuster James Bond movie franchise, and now Variety has confirmed the report, as well as revealing four more directors said to be on Eon and Sony's radar for Bond 24.

According to Variety, Refn - whose latest film Only God Forgives premiered at Cannes this month [read our review here] - is joined on the shortlist of potential directors for Bond 24 by Oscar-winners Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Life of Pi) and Tom Hooper (The King's Speech, Les Miserables), in addition to David Yates (State of Play, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) and Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Iron Man 3). Previous candidates are said to include Danny Boyle (127 Hours, Trance) and Christopher Nolan (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises).

Skyfall screenwriter John Logan is currently penning the script for Bond 24 (which is said to be a two-parter, concluding with Bond 25), but the report goes on to state that Sony are still finalising a deal with Daniel Craig to return for his fourth outing as 007, so it could be some time before a director is confirmed.

Who would you like to see directing Bond 24? Let us know in the comments below...