'Bond. James Bond' - Yes, he is back and 'Peaky Blinders' creator Steven Knight to write next film on eveyone's favourite superspy
It marks the latest step in a major overhaul of the iconic British spy franchise, following Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson handing over creative control to Amazon as part of a lucrative deal.
Knight told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: "It has always been on my bucket list and it's fantastic to be invited to do it, and I can't wait to get started.'
He added: "I'm hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that's the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder.'
In June it was announced that Dune's Denis Villeneuve will direct the film, which will be produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman via Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films respectively.
The pair consistently maintained that they would secure a director and develop a screenplay before casting the next super spy.
There has been speculation about who will take up the mantle of Bond after Daniel Craig's final portrayal in 2021's "No Time to Die."
In 2022, Amazon acquired MGM, including the rights to distribute James Bond films.
The official Bond film franchise had been controlled by members of the Broccoli family, either single-handedly or in partnership with others, since the first 007 movie "Dr No" in 1962.
Knight, 65, is the creator of historical drama series "A Thousand Blows," BBC's "This Town" and Netflix mini-series "All The Light We Cannot See."
He is also executive producer on the new series, "Built In Birmingham: Brady And The Blues," which follows Birmingham City football club and key ownership figures, including former NFL quarterback Tom Brady and US businessman Tom Wagner.
His upcoming projects include Netflix's "Peaky Blinders" film and historical drama series "House Of Guinness." - dpa
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
24 minutes ago
- The Star
Amazon overhauls Wondery podcast studio, cuts 110 jobs
Amazon logo is seen in this illustration taken February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration (Reuters) - is restructuring the Wondery podcast studio by shifting its award-winning narrative podcasts such as "Business Wars" to Audible and consolidating creator-led shows into a new unit, according to a memo seen by Reuters. About 110 employees will be laid off as part of the process, while many Wondery employees will transition to other parts of Amazon, the company said in an emailed statement on Monday. Wondery CEO Jen Sargent will depart the company following a transition period, the memo said. Intense competition in the expensive podcast industry as well as a growing focus on creator-led video content have prompted audio streaming companies including Spotify to diversify their podcasts as they look to lower costs and attract more users to their platforms. "As video podcasting has grown in popularity, we have learned that creator-led, video-integrated shows have different audience needs and require distinct discovery, growth and monetization strategies compared to audio-first, narrative series," Steve Boom, vice president of audio, Twitch and games at Amazon, wrote in the memo. Wondery was acquired by Amazon in 2021 and has seen podcast revenue quadruple since then as the studio expanded its slate to include video podcasts and creator-driven series, according to the memo. Under the new structure, Wondery's narrative podcast studio - home to shows such as "Dr. Death" and "American Scandal" - along with the Wondery+ subscription service, will move to Audible, the e-commerce giant's audio platform. Its creator-focused podcast team that produces shows including "Mind the Game", "New Heights", and "Armchair Expert" will join a new Creator Services group within Amazon's Talent Services division. This new team will continue to operate the creator-focused podcast studio under the Wondery brand. "By making these changes, we can better support creators in monetizing their content across multiple channels," Amazon said. Bloomberg News first reported on the Wondery overhaul. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: South Korean actor Song Young-kyu found dead at 55
SEOUL: South Korean actor Song Young-kyu, aged 55, was found dead in a parked car in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday morning, according to police. The authorities have stated there are no signs of foul play and an investigation is underway, the Korea Herald reported. They plan to interview his family to better understand the circumstances of his death. A veteran actor with a career spanning three decades, Song was well-known for his supporting role as a tough squad chief in the 2019 box office hit Extreme Job. His international recognition grew with appearances in popular streaming series like Netflix's Narco-Saints and Disney+'s Big Bet, both released in 2022. The actor's career had recently come under intense scrutiny following a drunk-driving incident on June 19. Police revealed that Song had been arrested after driving approximately 5km in Yongin with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 per cent, which is above the legal limit for a driver's licence revocation. The case had been passed on to prosecutors, pending an indictment. In the wake of this incident, Song was swiftly removed from two high-profile dramas currently in production—ENA's The Defects and SBS' The Winning Try—as well as the stage play Shakespeare in Love. This swift industry response is common in South Korea, where public figures are held to strict moral standards.
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Dua Lipa granted citizenship in Kosovo: 'My two sides are now one'
PRISTINA: British-Albanian pop sensation Dua Lipa has been officially granted citizenship in Kosovo, the country her family is from. The singer, who was born in London to Kosovan-Albanian parents and lived briefly in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, as a child, said the honour "completes the duality I have always had within." The BBC reported that President Vjosa Osmani hosted the special ceremony, describing it as an "honour" to grant citizenship to an individual she hailed as "one of the most iconic cultural figures in our country's history." The President praised Lipa for carrying Kosovo's story "with strength, pride, and grace" on a global stage, adding that the country's gratitude for her efforts is "endless." Lipa's connection to Kosovo is well-documented. She has often spoken of her love for the country and in 2018, she and her father co-founded the Sunny Hill Festival in Pristina. The annual music event aims to "change the rhetoric of what people think about Kosovo and it being war-torn," a reference to the country's past. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move recognised by the UK, US, and many other nations, but not by Serbia itself. The 'Radical Optimism' singer is currently in Kosovo for this year's three-day Sunny Hill Festival, where she headlined on Friday. She shared her feelings on Instagram, writing that it was "hard to put into words what it means" to share the night with her fans "in the city that shaped me, surrounded by so much energy, joy, and pride." This is not the first time Lipa has been recognised for her efforts to promote her heritage. In 2022, she was also awarded Albanian citizenship and named an Honorary Ambassador of Kosovo, a title she described as an "honour and a privilege to be able to represent my country all over the world." The ceremony was a heartfelt affair, with a children's choir performing a rendition of her hit song 'Levitating'. UK Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonathan Hargreaves, was also in attendance and posted a photograph with Lipa on social media, proudly saying that both the UK and Kosovo consider her "one of our own." With this latest honour, Dua Lipa now holds citizenship for Britain, Albania, and Kosovo.
