The next James Bond movie just found its director
Oscar-nominated Denis Villeneuve will direct the next "James Bond" film, Amazon MGM Studios has announced.
Amazon announced Wednesday, June 25, that the "Dune" director will helm the film – the first under Amazon MGM Studios. The news comes four months after Amazon took creative control of the Bond franchise as part of an agreement with longtime producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, who will focus on "other projects" going forward.
"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," Villeneuve said in a statement.
Villeneuve is the Canadian film director and writer behind critically acclaimed films like "Sicario," "Dune," "Dune: Part Two," "Blade Runner 2049" and "Arrival."
He was nominated for best director at the 2017 Oscars for sci-fi film "Arrival," which starred Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, and for best adapted screenplay for "Dune," based on author Frank Herbert's highly acclaimed 1965 novel of the same name, at the 2022 Oscars.
Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce the next Bond movie.
'Dune 2' review: Timothee Chalamet sci-fi epic gets it right the second time around
Just after news of the Amazon deal was announced, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos asked followers on X, "Who'd you pick as the next Bond?"
The longest-running movie series has yet to name a new lead actor following Daniel Craig's final outing as 007 in "No Time to Die" in 2021, which earned nearly $800 million at the global box office.
Amazon MGM Studios has not revealed when the next Bond movie will be released.
James Bond is now controlled by Amazon, Jeff Bezos solicits casting ideas
Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson and Broccoli remain co-owners of the franchise.
The creative takeover marked the end of an era for Bond, a franchise that Broccoli and her half-brother Wilson have controlled since 1995. The film series began with 1962's "Dr. No" under the stewardship of Albert R. Broccoli, Barbara's father, and Harry Saltzman.
Amazon gained the rights to distribute the Bond films after acquiring MGM in 2022, the year after "No Time to Die," though Wilson and Broccoli retained creative control. The deal could also open the door for Amazon to expand Bond into new areas, such as spinoff films and streaming shows. The company previously released "007: Road to a Million," a reality competition show based on the world of Bond, in 2023.
Contributing: Reuters; Brendan Morrow and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
This story has been updated to include additional information.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Denis Villeneuve to direct next James Bond movie
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