It’s official. Renowned director Denis Villeneuve has put pen to paper and signed on to helm the next James Bond film, the first since Daniel Craig’s departure.
Four years removed from Craig’s final outing as the legendary spy in No Time to Die, we now know what the future holds for the series. Villeneuve, most recently of Dune fame, is taking charge as the director of the next Bond flick.
Amazon confirmed the news in a press release on June 25, 2025, with Villeneuve assuring he’s 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.”
Villeneuve’s filmography is the stuff of cinematic legend. The 57-year-old Canadian broke into the mainstream with 2013’s Prisoners starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. Since then, it’s been one seminal blockbuster after another.
Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Dune: Part One and Two, and the forthcoming Dune: Messiah mark one of the strongest track records of any contemporary director.
“He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself,” Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said in the press release. “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.”
With his third and final Dune film currently in post-production, it seemingly opens the door for work to commence on his take on Bond. However, it’s unclear how this assignment may impact other works he’s attached to, including Cleopatra and Rendezvous with Rama, two productions he’s currently assigned to in a directorial role.
Craig portrayed 007 across five films over the course of 15 years.
Of course, it’s still unclear which actor may step into the shoes of the iconic spy. That mystery has been kept under wraps for years now, and we’re still being kept waiting. From rumors surrounding 28 Years Later star Aaron Taylor-Johnson to reports of Aaron Pierre being eyed for the gig, it appears to still be anyone’s mantle for the taking.
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