NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Denis Villeneuve is going from 鈥淒une鈥 to Bond.
Amazon MGM Studios announced Wednesday that Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie. The untitled film will be the first since the studio after
Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman had maintained that they would develop a screenplay and find a director first. Now, they have one of the most respected blockbuster makers in Hollywood, who's coming off a pair of widely acclaimed 鈥淒une鈥 films.
In a statement, the 57-year-old French Canadian filmmaker said he grew up watching Bond movies.
鈥淚鈥檓 a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he鈥檚 sacred territory,鈥 said Villeneuve. 鈥淚 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.鈥
Since taking creative control of Bond in February, Amazon MGM has worked quickly to get the next movie going. The studio is also trying to win over fans skeptical of the new corporate leadership and the fearful of future spinoffs.
鈥淛ames Bond is in the hands of one of today鈥檚 greatest filmmakers,鈥 said Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.
With Pascal and Heyman lodged as producers and Villeneuve behind the camera, the next Bond movie will have an enviable brain trust. Villeneuve beat out a field of directors floated for the movie including Edward Berger ("Conclave"), Paul King ("Paddington 2"), Edgar Wright ("Baby Driver") and Jonathan Nolan, co-creator of 鈥淲estworld鈥 and brother to Christopher Nolan.
鈥淒enis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy," said Pascal and Heyman. 鈥淚t was always his dream to make this movie, and now it鈥檚 ours, too.鈥
No release date has been announced for the next Bond movie. Villeneuve will shoot the third 鈥淒une鈥 film this summer. If production on Bond began next year, a release sometime in 2027 would be likely.
Villenevue's first two 鈥淒une鈥 films have together surpassed $1 billion in box office worldwide and been nominated for a combined 15 Academy Awards, winning seven. His other films include 鈥淏lade Runner 2049,鈥 鈥淎rrival,鈥 鈥淪icario,鈥 鈥淧risoners,鈥 鈥淓nemy鈥 and 鈥淚ncendies.鈥
in 2022 for $8.5 billion, but didn't gain creative control of the studio's most prized asset until this year. Until this film, every Bond director has been handpicked by the Broccolis.