Acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve will helm the next James Bond movie, in association with Amazon MGM Studios.
Producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal, whose participation had already been announced, will indeed be the ones heading the project. Joining them is Tanya Lapointe, in an executive producer role.
"Some of my earliest movie memories are linked to 007. I used to always watch James Bond movies with my dad, right from the time of 'Dr. No' starring Sean Connery. I'm a die-hard fan of Bond. For me, he's holy ground," Villeneuve said.
Speaking to Variety, he said how much he felt connected to the series and his intentions for its future: "This is a huge responsibility, but also, really thrilling for me and a great honor. Amy, David, and I are so excited to have him back on screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their faith."
Mike Hopkins, who heads Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, welcomed Villeneuve's appointment:
We are privileged that Denis has come aboard to helm James Bond's next installment. He is a master filmmaker, whose body of work speaks for itself.
He continued, "From 'Blade Runner 2049' to 'Arrival' to the 'Dune' movies, he has brought us provocative worlds, alive-with-energy visuals, nuanced characters, and—above all—the deeply engaging storytelling that worldwide viewers crave to see on the big screen. James Bond is in the care of one of the best filmmakers working today and we can't wait to begin on 007's next mission."
Pascal and Heyman shared the enthusiasm:
"Denis Villeneuve was a James Bond fan boy as a child. It was always his ambition to direct this film, and now it's ours, as well. We're blessed to be in the care of this master filmmaker."
Villeneuve, the renowned French-Canadian director with several Oscar nominations, is perhaps most famous for his recent critically acclaimed work on Dune and Dune: Part Two. There is a third installment in the series, Dune: Messiah, already in production, set to release in 2026.
Pascal will be producing the Bond film under her imprint, Pascal Pictures, and Heyman will be producing under his, Heyday Films.
The pair officially came aboard the movie in March after Amazon MGM's historic deal with longtime Bond franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. That agreement was a turning point, with it passing control of the legendary spy series into the hands of the streaming giant.
At CinemaCon in April, Amazon chiefs Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll teased where the franchise is going. They called the future film a "fresh, exciting new chapter," emphasizing their commitment to maintaining Bond's heritage.
"We are committed to honoring the legacy of this iconic character," Valenti and Kroll told the stage at Caesars Palace.
"They're both in London getting underway and couldn't be here tonight, but we felt we needed to thank them for what we know to make a tremendous partnership."
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