Denis Villeneuve to Direct New James Bond Film

Amazon MGM Studios has officially announced that Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond film.

"Some of my earliest memories of watching movies involve James Bond," Villeneuve shared in a statement released with today's news. "My father and I watched every Bond film together, starting with Dr. No starring Sean Connery. I'm a dedicated 007 fan. To me, this franchise is hallowed ground. My goal is to respect its legacy while paving the way for future missions. It's an immense responsibility, but also incredibly thrilling and a true honor."

Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, described Villeneuve as "a cinematic master whose body of work speaks for itself."

"James Bond is in the hands of one of the finest filmmakers working today, and we're excited to begin 007's next chapter," he added.

Villeneuve's directing credits include the Oscar-winning space epics Dune and Dune: Part Two, as well as Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival. He also directed the critically praised films Incendies (2010), Prisoners (2013), and Sicario (2015).

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Amazon MGM Studios reached an agreement with Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the longtime producers and co-owners of the James Bond franchise, granting Amazon future creative control over the James Bond series.

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The hunt for a director to helm the next Bond movie has been underway for quite a while. Prior reports suggested that filmmakers like Edward Berger (director of Netflix's All Quiet on the Western Front) and Kelly Marcel (director of Venom: The Last Dance) were also considered.

Meanwhile, the announcement of the next actor to play Bond is still pending – though one particular British star has clearly become a fan favorite. In the meantime, Villeneuve still has one more Dune movie to complete.

If the wait for the next Bond film feels too long, fans can look forward to 007: First Light, a new Bond game from Hitman developer IO Interactive, scheduled for release in 2026. Watch the debut trailer below.