The “Dune” and “Arrival” filmmaker said in a statement that some of his “earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007.”
Denis Villeneuve is going from the deserts of Arrakis to the world of Aston Martin DB5s and martinis — shaken, not stirred.
The Oscar-nominated French-Canadian filmmaker has been tapped to direct the next James Bond movie, which will be the first from Amazon MGM Studios, the company announced Wednesday. Villeneuve will also serve as an executive producer, alongside Tanya Lapointe. It was previously revealed that Amy Pascal and David Heyman will also serve as producers.
“Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007,” the Dune director said in a statement. “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. 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.”
Pascal and Heyman also added a note of support, saying in a statement, “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.”
In 2022, Amazon first acquired MGM, which featured a vast catalog of more than 4,000 films and 17,000 TV shows. Then, in February, Amazon MGM Studios, Michael G. Wilson, and Barbara Broccoli announced a new joint venture to house the intellectual property rights of James Bond, meaning that Amazon MGM would gain creative control of the franchise, which has spawned 25 films to date. Wilson and Broccoli will remain co-owners of the international man of mystery, but are stepping back from producing duties.
“With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects,” Wilson said in a statement at the time. “Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future.”
Adapted from the popular Ian Fleming novels, the first Bond film launched in 1962 by Albert “Cubby” Broccoli of Eon Productions, the British production company behind all of the Bond films — until now. Broccoli’s daughter, Barbara, and his stepson, Wilson, eventually succeeded him in the family business, bringing forth the more recent franchise entries, including the latest movie, 2021’s No Time to Die starring Daniel Craig (for the last time).
With Craig’s departure and Amazon MGM taking over the new era of 007, a new James Bond himself is in tall order. No announcement has been made yet to that effect, but Happy Valley star James Norton, Snowfall’s Damson Idris, Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill, Regé-Jean Page, Richard Madden, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have all been rumored or fan-cast at one point.
With Villeneuve onboard, the search is now underway for a screenwriter, and eventually, the next famous face brave enough to accept the mission of playing the suave super spy.
from EW.com