Denis Villeneuve dares to step into ‘sacred territory’ as new James Bond director

Denis Villeneuve, director of Dune, has been named as the next director in the James Bond franchise (Picture: Reuters)

In a dramatic move, Amazon MGM Studios has announced that Denis Villeneuve will helm the next James Bond film.

The move marks a creative shift for the 007 franchise, signaling a new era for Britain’s most iconic spy.

The Canadian director, best known for directing Dune and Dune: Part Two, as well as Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Sicario, and Prisoners, expressed reverence for the character.

‘Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007,’ he said in a statement released Wednesday.

‘I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory.’

While acknowledging the enormous expectations, Villeneuve said he intends to ‘honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.’

Villeneuve called the appointment a ‘massive responsibility’ (Picture: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) He’s perhaps best known for directing the Dune franchise (Picture: Warner Bros/Everett/REX/Shutterstock) He’s also known for sci-fi films like Blade Runner 2049 (Picture: ©2017 Alcon Entertainment, LLC.) Are you happy with Denis Villeneuve as the next James Bond director? Yes! Not so much... Share on FacebookShare your results Share on XTweet your results

He called the opportunity ‘a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour.’

The announcement comes during a period of major upheaval behind the scenes of the Bond universe.

Amazon Studios officially purchased MGM for $8.45billion (£6.7billion) in 2022, with a new agreement over creative control meaning Bond — and whoever is next to play 007 – is entirely under the streamer’s control.

Past directors of James Bond films

Terence Young
Dr. No (1962)
From Russia with Love (1963)
Thunderball (1965)

Guy Hamilton
Goldfinger (1964)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
Live and Let Die (1973)
The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

Lewis Gilbert
You Only Live Twice (1967)
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)
Moonraker (1979)

Peter R. Hunt
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

John Glen
For Your Eyes Only (1981)
Octopussy (1983)
A View to a Kill (1985)
The Living Daylights (1987)
Licence to Kill (1989)

Martin Campbell
GoldenEye (1995)
Casino Royale (2006)

Roger Spottiswoode
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

Michael Apted
The World Is Not Enough (1999)

Lee Tamahori
Die Another Day (2002)

Marc Forster
Quantum of Solace (2008)

Sam Mendes
Skyfall (2012)
Spectre (2015)

Cary Joji Fukunaga
No Time to Die (2021)

It is a landmark decision as family-run Eon Productions has brought Bond to the big screen since the franchise began.

After decades of tight creative control, producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson – heirs to the franchise through their father, original Bond producer Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoli – have ceded key decision-making power to Amazon MGM Studios.

Mike Hopkins, head of Amazon MGM Studios, praised the selection of Villeneuve: ‘We are honoured that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond’s next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself,’ he said in a statement.

It remains unclear who will replace Daniel Craig as 007 (Picture: Columbia/Eon/Danjaq/Mgm/Kobal/Shutterstock) Craig stepped down from the role in 2021 (Picture: Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Omega)

‘James Bond is in the hands of one of today’s greatest filmmakers and we cannot wait to get started on 007’s next adventure.’

It comes after it was reported bosses have been given a £250,000,000 budget and three years to get the next film on the big screen.

That means we could have a new Bond film by the end of 2027, though we’re still no clearer on who will play the superspy after Daniel Craig stepped down in 2021.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson has long been heavily rumoured to be the next James Bond, from as far back as 2022 – although reports of his official casting were denied in March 2024.

Former favourite Idris Elba, 52, previously ruled himself out from playing the British spy, while other hotly tipped actors, including James Norton and Theo James, have remained coy.

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