Denis Villeneuve to direct next James Bond film
‘Die-hard Bond fan’ Villeneuve says the Bond character is ‘sacred territory’
Denis Villeneuve is going from Dune to Bond.
AmazonMGM announced Wednesday that Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie. The untitled film will be the first since the studio took creative reins of the storied film franchise after decades of control by the Broccoli family.
Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman had maintained that before the next Bond is cast, they would develop a screenplay and find a director first. Now, they have one of the most respected blockbuster makers in Hollywood who’s coming off a pair of widely acclaimed Dune films.
In a statement, the 57-year-old French Canadian filmmaker said he grew up watching Bond films.
“I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory,” said Villeneuve. “I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour.”
The franchise has yet to name a new lead actor following Daniel Craig’s departure after No Time to Die in 2021, which earned nearly US$800 million in global box office collections.
