Photo by VÂro Boncompagni – © VÂro Boncompagni-09

Denis Villeneuve, the Oscar-nominated writer-director of the Dune franchise, has signed on to helm the next entry in the James Bond series, Amazon MGM Studios has announced. The  filmmaker will work alongside his artistic partner and wife, Tanya Lapointe, who will serve as an executive producer. They’ll be joined by producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, on the anticipated follow-up.

Villeneuve, who’s also known for his Academy Award-nominated work on Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival, has spoken about his desire to direct a movie in the James Bond franchise for more than a decade. He released a statement through Amazon MGM Studios yesterday, sharing his gratitude to be selected to direct the franchise’s next installment.

“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 territory,” Villeneuve said.

“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,” the Sicario helmer added.

Mike Hopkins, the head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, praised Villeneuve’s filmmaking approach in the statement. “We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond‘s next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself.

“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,” Hopkins also said.

Pascal and Heyman also chimed in on Villeneuve being named the next helmer in the James Bond series. The executives said the filmmaker “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.”

The news of Villeneuve signing on direct the next James Bond movie comes after Amazon MGM Studios took over the franchise in February. Under the deal, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli – the duo who brought the 007 films to theaters for more than 60 years – remain co-owners. The duo formed a new joint venture with Amazon MGM that transfered the creative control of all future production to the Jeff Bezos-founded company.

Amazon bought MGM in 2022 for $8.25 billion. In the process, the technology company acquired the Hollywood studio’s catalog of 4,000 movies and more than 17,000 television shows. As part of the deal, Amazon gained possession of the rights to distribute all 27 of the James Bond films based on Ian Fleming’s books.

MGM’s James Bond movies are the studio’s most lucrative intellectual property. Since Dr. No, the first screen adaptation in the series, was released in 1962, the franchise has grossed billions of dollars.

The latest installment in the spy series, No Time to Die, garnered more than $770 million at the global box office. As a result, it became the fourth-highest grossing film of 2021.

One of Villeneuve and Amazon MGM Studios’ biggest tasks in making the next James Bond movie is casting the next actor in the titular role. The franchise’s previous star,  Daniel Craig ,announced that No Time to Die would be the last time he stars in a James Bond movie.

It’s not yet known when the next James Bond film will begin production. Amazon MGM Studios is currently looking for a screenwriter who will work with Villeneuve to bring the latest incarnation of the secret agent to the big screen.

The director is also completing production on the third and final Dune film for Warner Bros and Legendary Entertainment. The franchise’s second sequel is set to begin filming this summer, and is scheduled to be release on December 16, 2026.