'Die hard' Bond fan Denis Villeneuve to direct next 007 outing
Denis Villeneuve has described himself as a "die-hard Bond fan," upon the announcement that he will direct the next 007 outing.
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Amazon confirmed on Thursday that the Canadian, who has directed films such as Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune, will give his take on Sir Ian Fleming's classic spy.
The studio, which is now branded as Amazon MGM after buying out the legendary Hollywood company in February, has not announced a new film.
And the question remains as to who will star as 007, with a host of A-list names still being tossed around.
But fans are a step closer to the first in the franchise since 2021's No Time to Die with the news that Villeneuve will be behind the camera for the next film. And the director has shared his excitement at the prospect of having a crack.
“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,” he said.
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“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 Amy Pascal and David 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.”
All the films that Denis Villeneuve has directed
- August 32nd on Earth (1998) - His debut feature, a surreal drama about a woman who survives a car crash and decides she wants to have a baby in the desert
- Maelström (2000) - A dark comedy-drama about a woman who accidentally kills a fisherman in a hit-and-run accident
- Polytechnique (2009) - A black-and-white drama based on the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal
- Incendies (2010) - A mystery drama about twins searching for their father and brother in the Middle East, based on Wajdi Mouawad's play
- Prisoners (2013) - A thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal about a father searching for his missing daughter
- Sicario (2015) - A crime thriller about the drug war on the US-Mexico border, starring Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro
- Arrival (2016) - A science fiction film about a linguist trying to communicate with alien visitors, starring Amy Adams
- Blade Runner 2049 (2017) - The sequel to Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, starring Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford
- Dune (2021) - The first part of his adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel, starring Timothée Chalamet
- Dune: Part Two (2024) - The continuation of his Dune adaptation, completing Paul Atreides' initial story arc