Casino Royale director Martin Campbell addresses whether he would be interested in directing , were the chance to present itself. Campbell made his Bond debut with 1995’s Goldeneye, providing a sure hand with the movie’s action, and helping the franchise reset to a $356 million box office tally. Campbell was later brought back to helm Daniel Craig’s debut Bond entry, a $616 million worldwide hit, and there has been talk of him taking a third turn at helming a Bond franchise movie.

Campbell is quick to shoot down any rumors that he’s on a short-list to possibly helm Bond 26, but the Casino Royale director is not so fast to dismiss the general possibility of taking on another 007 assignment in the future, be it the next movie or some later franchise entry. Speaking to ScreenRant for the release of his new action film Cleaner, :

Yeah, I wouldn't say no. The point is that I love Bond. Bond is something I grew up with, right? Way back to Dr. No, when I took my mother to see it. And Bond is, always for me, an event picture. The point is, when I used to see Bond, it was an event. And that's what's so great about them. The budgets are big, the action's terrific, and the character's terrific.

Campbell continued discussing his love of the Bond franchise, while revealing his favorite classic 007 actor:

And I've loved all the Bonds. I mean, the original Connery, who I was brought up with, was probably my favorite, if you see what I mean. But the way it's actually the arc of Bond over how many years, God knows it at 50 years or something. It's extraordinary. So he's obviously doing something right.

A change in 007 actors is always a big moment for the Bond franchise. Along with the uncertainty surrounding a new star, there’s the worry over how each film will land tonally, given the ever-shifting tastes of moviegoers. Broader societal trends also play a role in how new Bond eras seek to reinvent the formula,

Campbell was the director placed in charge of kicking off the Pierce Brosnan Bond era, and did such a good job that producers turned to him again when it was time for Brosnan to exit, and for Craig to hop aboard. Given that he’s two-for-two in delivering the goods on Bond torch-passer movies, it’s natural to think Eon will turn to him again as they launch yet another new era with Bond 26. , but if he were, it’s not as though he’d admit it.

It’s yet to be seen who will take the Bond baton from five-timer Craig, following 007’s explosive death in the climax of No Time to Die. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the current Bond front-runner, with Henry Cavill, James Norton, Damon Idris and others trailing behind.

Campbell would be the safe pick to helm Bond 26, given that he previously helped both Brosnan and Craig find their sea-legs as 007. On the other hand, perhaps the Casino Royale director is a little too much of a safe pick. The Bond series often brings in old veterans like Sam Mendes to direct, liking a steady hand at the controls. But Eon did take a couple of swings on younger directors during the Craig era, picking Marc Forster for Quantum of Solace (a huge mistake, arguably) and Cary Joji Fukunaga for the aforementioned No Time to Die.

, and can be counted on to move slowly and carefully into whatever new future awaits. Campbell says he’s ready to go if called on to help launch a new Bond era for the third time. But Bond 26 does not yet have a confirmed director, and there are plenty of filmmakers who’d love a chance to play M to the new franchise star’s 007.