Spy-movie fans, get ready. A French-Canadian director behind Oscar-winning film Dune will be leading the next James Bond movie.
On Wednesday, Amazon MGM Studios announced Denis Villeneuve as the new film director, who will join another Canadian filmmaker, Tanya Lapointe, who is the executive producer of the upcoming spy adventure.
And fans can expect the remarkable identity of the beloved British spy to remain intact, as Villeneuve, who calls himself a “die-hard Bond fan,” says he will be working to “honour the tradition” on this new film.
“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 (1962) with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come,” he said in a statement.
Villeneuve also joins a renowned team of producers, including American film executive Amy Pascal, who took part in several Marvel favourites such as Spiderman: No Way Home (2021) and Venom (2018). The new film also includes British filmmaker and actor David Heyman, known for his roles in Gravity (2013) and the Paddignton series.
“This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust,” the director added.
Head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios Mike Hopkins said he was excited for Villeneuve to join the production, saying the company is excited for the beginning of “007’s next adventure.”
“We are honoured that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond’s next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself…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,” he added.
The last actor to play the iconic role of agent 007 was English actor Daniel Craig in the 2021 film No Time to Die. Craig held the role for 15 years, since 2006’s Casino Royale.
It is still unknown who will be playing the beloved MI6 spy in the Amazon MGM production, and although unconfirmed, The Sun says the film could be hitting the cinemas by the end of 2027.
Online, Canadian movie fans are also applauding the decision of having Villeneuve behind the classic.
“One of the greatest directors ever. For me personally, the only director that would actually make me tune into a movie,” one Reddit user said.
“Get ready for a perfect Bond film,” a different user added.
“A master of the craft, and one of the best in the industry. Hopefully Amazon Studios gives him free rein in how he’ll approach the material and he’s handed a decent script,” another user chimed in.
WHO IS DENIS VILLENEUVE?
The new 007 director is one of Canada’s most notorious filmmakers, known for his dark-atmospheric films, which often explore memory, identity and trauma.
Born in the small town of Gentilly, QC, Villeneuve kicked off his promising career with the Jamaican docudrama REW-FFWD (1994), which won a New York Film Academy award at the Locarno International Film Festival.
Early in his career, he also directed several music videos, from artists and groups like Daniel Bélanger, Cirque du Soleil and Beau Dommage.
He also led various French-language productions like August 32nd on Earth (1998) Maelström (2000), Polytechnique (2009), Incendies (2010). Combined with one of his most famous English-language productions, Enemy (2013), his Canadian films have received 53 awards, including 22 Genie Awards, five Canadian Screen Awards and 26 Prix Iris.
Villeneuve is internationally acclaimed for his Hollywood productions, which include Prisoners (2013), Sicario (2015), Arrival (2016), and the well-known action film Blade Runner 2049 (2017), which made him the one and only Quebecois Best Director Oscar-winning filmmaker.
In 2021, Villeneuve released his most famous production, Dune, which received six out of 10 Oscar wins, as well as numerous other awards from the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA), Critics Choice Awards, and more.
