Denis Villeneuve Tapped to Helm Next Bond Film

Dune’s Denis Villeneuve Steps Into 007’s Shoes

The tea leaves have spoken, and the wait is over—James Bond will soon return to cinema screens under the direction of none other than Denis Villeneuve, the visionary director behind Dune. Bond’s new owners, Amazon MGM Studios, has handed the wheel of the world’s most famous Aston Martin to Villeneuve, have now made the first of the two big questions surrounding Bond.

Villeneuve, who has dazzled audiences and critics alike with his cinematic ambition, is no stranger to tackling the impossible. Fresh from conquering the sand-swept universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune, he now turns his sights to the bulletproof legacy of Britain’s suavest secret agent.

A "die-hard fan" of Bond

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, the French-Canadian auteur couldn’t hide his enthusiasm: “Some of my earliest movie memories involve 007—watching Bond films with my father, starting all the way back with Sean Connery’s Dr. No. I’m a die-hard fan. For me, Bond is sacred ground.” He added, “This is a massive responsibility, but my excitement is just as huge. I promise to honour the tradition while paving the way for fresh, thrilling missions. [The producers] and I are absolutely over the moon to bring Bond back to audiences.”

With Villeneuve’s signature flair for both spectacle and substance, Britain’s iconic spy looks set to embark on a grand new adventure—martinis and gadgets at the ready. 007 is about to get a Villeneuve twist.

Now all he has to do is answer the second big question: which actor will take on the role of James Bond who died in the last movie?

(Michael Leahy. Source: Variety et al. Photo: Unsplash)