Denis Villeneuve, the 57-year-old director known for his work on Dune, has been chosen to direct the 26th ‘James Bond’ film. This announcement marks a significant change in the Bond franchise, as it will be the first movie produced by Amazon and MGM Studios after Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepped back from their oversight roles.
According to People, the appointment comes at a crucial time for the franchise, which has earned more than $7 billion since its beginning. Amazon MGM Studios will now have creative control of the series, though Broccoli and Wilson remain co-owners through a joint venture agreement made in February.
“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,” said new producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman in their announcement. Villeneuve himself shared his connection to the franchise, stating that some of his earliest movie memories involve watching Bond films with his father, starting with Dr. No starring Sean Connery.
The path that led Villeneuve to Bond
Villeneuve’s journey to this position began with his French-language film Incendies in 2010, which received an Oscar nomination. He then moved on to direct several successful Hollywood projects, including Prisoners, Enemy, and Sicario. His work on Arrival earned him his first Best Director Oscar nomination, while both Dune movies received Best Picture nominations, with Villeneuve already planning a third installment.
Denis Villeneuve has made a statement about directing the next James Bond film:
— Denis Villeneuve Universe (@DenisVfilms) June 26, 2025
“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… pic.twitter.com/7UKb2OdP7g
The new Bond film still has several key positions to fill. Amazon MGM has not yet announced who will write the screenplay or who will take on the iconic role of James Bond. The most recent actor to play Bond, Daniel Craig, completed his critically acclaimed five-film run with No Time to Die in 2021, stating he needed to move on from the franchise.
The Bond character has a rich history in cinema, first appearing on screen in 1962 with Sean Connery in Dr. No. Since then, the role has been played by several actors, including George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan. The character is based on British novelist Ian Fleming’s creation, which first appeared in the 1953 novel Casino Royale.
Villeneuve expressed both excitement and respect for his new role, acknowledging it as a “massive responsibility” and “huge honor.” He promised to honor the tradition of the franchise while creating new possibilities for future Bond films. The director’s commitment to the series seems deeply personal, as he describes himself as a “die-hard Bond fan” and views the character as “sacred territory.”
