While fans still wait news on who the next actor to play British super-spy James Bond will be, Amazon MGM Studios has found the film’s director.
The studio announced Wednesday that Denis Villeneuve – best known for directing Warner Bros.’ two-part Dune adaptation – has signed on to direct the untitled film, via Amazon press release.
The 57-year-old French-Canadian filmmaker will also serve as executive producer of the project alongside Tanya Lapointe.
Amazon had previously set Amy Pascal and David Heyman as the film’s producers, after the studio parted ways with longtime 007 caretakers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
The news comes just over three years after Amazon completed its massive $8.5 billion acquisition of MGM Studios that included the James Bond franchise.
There hasn’t been a new 007 film since 2021’s No Time to Die, the final film with Daniel Craig as the beloved secret agent.
The director said in a statement, ‘Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery.’
He added, ‘I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.’
The filmmaker admitted, ‘This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor.’
He also went on to thank Bond producers Pascal and Heyman, adding they, ‘are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.’
Pascal and Heyman added, ‘Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it’s ours, too. We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker.’
After Amazon acquired MGM in 2022, they obtained full creative control of the franchise with a deal they struck with Broccoli and Wilson, the offspring of original James Bond producer, Albert R. Broccoli.
Broccoli and Wilson had been overseeing the franchise since 1995, when their father ceded control of his Eon Productions company to them.
