Phoebe Waller-Bridge addresses reports she’s in the running to direct James Bond

The Fleabag creator helped write the script of 2021 Bond film No Time To Die
Phoebe Waller-Bridge has responded to talk that she’s set to direct the new Bond film
Alasdair Mclellan/Vanity Fair
Tina Campbell27 June 2023
The Weekender

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Phoebe Waller-Bridge has responded to speculation that she could be set to direct the next James Bond movie.

The 37-year-old Fleabag creator helped write the script of the most recent Bond film, No Time To Die, back in 2021.

It was then reported in the Mail in April that she’s in “early discussions” with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli to direct the upcoming 26th instalment of the spy franchise.

Waller-Bridge “cackled” when asked about Bond in a new interview with Vanity Fair magazine.

Appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair’s July/August issue, the London-born talent said: “My mum sent me that rumour too.”

"Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny" UK Premiere  VIP Arrivals
Phoebe Waller-Bridge pictured with Harrison Ford at the premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Max Cisotti/Dave Benett

The journalist then notes that she added a “cackle, denying it with a flourish”.

Waller-Bridge then pointed out that she has only ever directed a single music video.

“So the obvious leap is James Bond,” she joked.

Also not on the cards is her replacing Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones franchise.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge features on the cover of the July/August issue of Vanity Fair out June 29
Alasdair Mclellan/Vanity Fair

While she stars as Indiana Jones’ goddaughter Helena Shaw in the latest instalment of the adventure series, Dial of Destiny, which is released nationwide in UK cinemas from Wednesday, she told the publication firmly “there’s no replacing Indiana Jones in any way”.

Adding: “But I feel like the character herself – she did feel fresh on the page, and there is a sense of, is there room in the world for someone like this?”

VanityFair.com and Vanity Fair’s July/ August issue, on newsstands June 29

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