Ever hungry for the next big film rumour, The Sun reported this week that Danny Boyle was being lined up to direct the next James Bond film.

Now, however, Boyle has gone on record to confirm what we suspected all along – it’s not true. “I enjoy the Bond movies, always have and always will, but I have no plans to direct one," Boyle told MTV. "I don't know who came up with the story, but please tell them I'm very flattered to be thought of!"

With Slumdog Millionaire scooping gold at the Oscars and Boyle’s proven ability to hop between genres, it’s only natural he’d be considered, but we doubt he’d even so much as taken a meeting on the idea.

That, of course means that the director’s chair for the next Bond movie is still – until the EON team says otherwise – wide open.

We decided to compile our own wish list of offbeat directing choices that could make 007’s next mission something different…

Alfonso Cuaron

Past form: Children Of Men, Yu Tu Mama Tambien

Why he could be great: Did you see Children Of Men? That movie’s epic, shattering steadicam shot through a city-ruining battle proved that Cuaron could easily step up to Bond’s action level.

Plus, he’s got a firm grip on character and drama, so he’d be able to blend the two to better effect than Marc Forster managed.

Sample Bondage: A five-minute-long foot chase through narrow, winding streets in the middle of London as Bond tracks down one of the villains’ henchmen.

It ends with Bond and his target enjoying a steamy yet awkward three-way with an older woman. Which in Bond’s case is likely M. Okay, maybe not the last bit.