Danny Boyle dropped a bombshell earlier this week when it was announced that he had backed out as director of the next James Bond movie and now the folks at EON and MGM are scrambling to find a replacement. We are hearing that if they do not find a new director within the next 60 days, the film will be forced to relinquish its November 8th, 2019 release date. Needless to say, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are going back to talk to some of the other directors that they previously had in mind, but there are also some new names in the mix now. Hit the jump to find out who else might take on Bond 25.

According to Deadline, David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water, Outlaw King) and Yann Demange (’71, White Boy Rick) are still at the top of the shortlist of possible contenders to direct Bond 25. However, both Jean-Marc Vallee (Dallas Buyers Club) and Edgar Wright (Baby Driver) are also said to be realistic possibilities and may have already been approached for preliminary discussions. Wright, in particular, has expressed interest in directing a Bond movie in the past and appears to be available at the moment. Vallee, on the other hand, is said to have other commitments that might prevent him from taking the gig.

As for why Danny Boyle dropped out, The Telegraph is reporting that he disagreed with the casting of Tomasz Kot (Cold War) as the film’s villain. The plot of the movie is said to be based on the current political climate with Russia playing a major part in the story. Daniel Craig wanted Kot and Boyle did not, so Craig won out. What do you think of the latest Bond 25 director shortlist?