Amazon MGM Studios has officially announced that Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond film. This movie will be the 26th in the long-running series and the first since Amazon bought MGM for $8.45 billion in 2022. It’s also the first Bond film to be developed under Amazon’s full creative control, after the studio reached an agreement with longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson in March 2025.
Tanya Lapointe, who is Villeneuve’s wife and creative partner, will serve as executive producer. Amy Pascal and David Heyman, both well-known producers, were previously announced as producers of the film.
In his statement, Villeneuve shared his personal connection to the Bond series. He said he first watched Bond movies with his father, starting with Dr. No starring Sean Connery. He called himself a die-hard Bond fan and described the character as “sacred territory.” Villeneuve said he wants to respect the Bond legacy while also making room for new stories. He added that this is both a huge responsibility and a great honor.
Key Takeaways
- Denis Villeneuve has been officially announced as the director of the 26th James Bond film, the first produced under Amazon MGM Studios’ full creative control.
- The film has no confirmed cast, screenwriter, or production start date yet, but Tanya Lapointe will serve as executive producer alongside producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman.
- Villeneuve’s recent films, including Dune: Part Two and Blade Runner 2049, have earned awards and box office success, positioning him as a high-profile choice for the Bond franchise.
Amazon Gains Creative Control of Bond After Major Studio Deal
In 2022, Amazon acquired MGM, the film studio that holds the rights to the James Bond movies. The deal included a catalog of more than 4,000 films and 17,000 TV episodes.
Even after the sale, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson continued to oversee the creative side of the Bond franchise. But that all changed in March 2025, when Amazon MGM Studios and the Bond producers signed a new agreement, as the deal gave Amazon full creative control over future James Bond films.
Soon after this, the studio chose Denis Villeneuve as director. Mike Hopkins, who leads Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, explained why Villeneuve was their choice. He said Villeneuve is a “cinematic master” whose work in films like Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the Dune series proves that he knows how to create exciting worlds and strong characters. Hopkins said audiences love Villeneuve’s storytelling and that Amazon is excited to start working on this new Bond adventure.
Pascal and Heyman also praised Villeneuve, saying he had dreamed of making a Bond movie since he was a child. They said they now share that dream and feel lucky to be working with such a talented director.
Villeneuve’s Career Brings a Track Record of Big, Award-Winning Films
Denis Villeneuve is a French-Canadian director whose work has earned many awards and nominations. He directed Arrival, which got an Academy Award nomination for Best Director and was also nominated for Best Picture. He then directed Blade Runner 2049, which received five Oscar nominations and won two.
In 2021, Villeneuve released Dune: Part One. The film won six Oscars and received more nominations from major groups like the Directors Guild, Writers Guild, Producers Guild, Critics’ Choice Awards, and BAFTA.It was also named Best Picture by the American Film Institute and other critics’ associations around the world.
In March 2024, Villeneuve released Dune: Part Two, which featured new cast members Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Léa Seydoux, and Christopher Walken. The sequel made more than $700 million worldwide. It won two Oscars and received nominations from the BAFTA Awards, Critics’ Choice, Producers Guild, and Writers Guild.It was again named Best Picture by AFI and international critics.
Due to these two films, Dune became the fourth film series in history to have both its first and second parts nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. The only franchises to achieve this were The Godfather, Avatar, and The Lord of the Rings.
Villeneuve has also directed Sicario, Prisoners, Enemy, and Incendies. In total, three of his last four films have been nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Villeneuve is represented by CAA, the Claude Girard Agency in Canada, and attorney Carlos Goodman.
No Bond Actor Yet, But Work Has Started Behind the Scenes
At this point, no actor has been named to play James Bond in the new film. Also, the script has not yet been written, and no production date has been shared. However, Amazon MGM Studios has begun the search for a screenwriter to work with Villeneuve on the story.
Villeneuve has worked with different writers on his past projects. For example, he co-wrote Dune with Jon Spaihts, Arrival with Eric Heisserer, Blade Runner 2049 with Hampton Fancher and Michael Green, and Sicario with Taylor Sheridan. So far, there is no confirmation on which writer, if any, will join him for the Bond film.
Directors who were reportedly considered for the job before Villeneuve was chosen included Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Paul King, and Jonathan Nolan. Alfonso Cuarón, who has worked with producer David Heyman before, was also mentioned as a possible candidate.
This new Bond movie will follow No Time to Die, which was released in 2021 and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. That film was Daniel Craig’s final appearance as James Bond.
Villeneuve had spoken about his interest in directing a Bond film before. In 2021, during an episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he said, “I would deeply love one day to make a James Bond movie.”
Now, that opportunity has become a reality.
