The next James Bond movie has found its director, but the search for the next 007 is still on. Amazon MGM Studios announced Wednesday, June 25, that acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve will helm the next installment in the Bond franchise.
The studio took over the rights in February 2025, giving it full creative control over future projects.
A lifelong Bond fan
Villeneuve, best known for directing “Dune,” “Blade Runner 2049” and “Arrival,” said the role is deeply personal.
“Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007,” Villeneuve said in a media release. “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.”
Amazon MGM Studios head Mike Hopkins praised Villeneuve’s “immersive storytelling,” which could hint that the upcoming Bond film may lean more serious and character-driven, like the recent films. According to the BBC, the tone may echo the grounded approach to “Casino Royale” rather than the more fantastical Bond films of the past.
A spokesperson for the James Bond International Fan Club told the outlet they believe this creative shake-up could be monumental. They called it the franchise’s “most artistically significant development of the future.”
One Reddit user was skeptical of Villeneuve’s role, saying, “I didn’t think [Denis] would do such a high-profile movie after the next Dune, but I’m here for it.”
“Dune” captured accolades from various award shows, including six Academy Award wins and one Golden Globe for Best Original Score in 2022.
Hans Zimmer’s score for “Dune: Part Two” was disqualified from the Best Original Score category at this year’s Oscars. Academy rules state, “the score must not use more than 20% of pre-existing themes and music borrowed from previous scores in the franchise.”
Zimmer’s score was a nominee for the 2025 Golden Globes.
Big changes behind the scenes
This is the first Bond film since longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepped back from day-to-day control. Their departure marks a major shift in how the franchise may be shaped going forward.
However, that shift hasn’t been without controversy.
In a report by The Wall Street Journal, sources said Broccoli told friends she “doesn’t trust algorithm-centric Amazon with a character she helped to mythologize through big-screen storytelling and gut instinct.” She also reportedly referred to some executives as “f—g idiots.”
Amazon also reportedly considered several directions before settling on a new film, including spin-offs and a TV series. While rumors swirled about a female 007 or expanded universe ideas, the studio ultimately returned to a traditional format — with Villeneuve at the helm.
But in February’s production announcement, Wilson said, “I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects. Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future.”
Broccoli echoed Wilson’s statements.
“I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry,” she said. “With the conclusion of ‘No Time to Die’ and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”
Still no 007
Despite the announcement of a director, the biggest question remains: who will play the next James Bond?
Daniel Craig’s run as the iconic British spy began with “Casino Royale” in 2006 and ended with “No Time to Die” in 2021, where his version of Bond was killed. Craig famously told Time Out after “Spectre” in 2015 that he’d rather “slash [his] wrists” than reprise the role.
When can we expect the next Bond film?
Villeneuve’s Bond endeavor isn’t a surprise, though. In an interview with The Playlist in 2017, Villeneuve said he was in conversation about possibly directing a Bond film, but timing would be an issue.
He is first slated to direct “Dune: Messiah,” the third film in his hit sci-fi saga. Based on the second book in the series, the film is expected in 2026. That means Bond’s next mission is still a ways off — and the mystery around 007’s identity continues.
With Villeneuve immersed in the sands of Arrakis, it may be a few years before the next film.
