After months of speculation, Amazon MGM Studios has confirmed that Dune and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve is officially set to helm the next James Bond installment.
This announcement comes after a long stretch of behind-the-scenes wrangling over the Bond franchise’s creative direction, especially since Amazon acquired MGM for $8.5 billion in 2022. While Amazon gained distribution rights back then, they only recently secured full creative control of the Bond franchise through surprising deal with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
Since No Time to Die closed out Daniel Craig’s run in 2021, Bond has essentially been in a holding pattern… until now.
Villeneuve wasn’t the only name being floated. According to Puck’s Matt Belloni, other contenders included Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Paul King, and, for a time, Alfonso Cuarón. But Cuarón reportedly bowed out, and Villeneuve, a lifelong Bond fan, rose to the top.
Villeneuve is currently locked into Dune: Messiah, set for release in December 2026. He’s also juggling a stack of high-profile projects, including Cleopatra, Rendezvous with Rama, and an adaptation of Annie Jacobsen’s Nuclear War: A Scenario. There’s no word when he’ll get around to making Bond, but the franchise is in good hands.
He’s already proven he can handle enormous IP with his signature auteur style. Both Dune films raked in critical acclaim, over $1.1 billion globally, and 15 Oscar nominations (eight wins). Then there’s Blade Runner 2049, which, despite its modest box office, has only grown in appreciation since its release.
Villeneuve, who will executive produce alongside Tanya Lapointe, Amy Pascal, and David Heyman, clearly doesn’t take this assignment lightly. He 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. 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. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”
Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, added: “We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond’s next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself. From Blade Runner 2049 to Arrival to the Dune films, he has delivered compelling worlds, dynamic visuals, complex characters, and—most importantly—the immersive storytelling that global audiences yearn to experience in theaters. 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.”
Producers 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.”
No word yet on casting or a title or even what Bond’s next mission will look like. But, under Villeneuve’s direction, I have no doubt he’ll do something awesome with it!
