Dune director Denis Villeneuve views the world of James Bond as "sacred territory." Now he'll have a chance to shape that world: the Quebecois filmmaker is directing the next installment of the venerable spy's adventures.
"I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery," Villeneuve said as Amazon MGM announced that he will helm the next 007 movie. "I'm a die-hard Bond fan."
It will be the latest prestige property for Villeneuve, who made Blade Runner 2049 before turning to the notoriously complicated stories of Dune. But don't expect a Bond film any time soon: Villeneuve is working on Dune: Messiah, his third film based on Frank Herbert's epic series. Dune: Messiah is not expected to hit theaters until December 2026.
Villeneuve, nominated for Academy Awards for Arrival and the Dune films, says he's excited to tell the next story about the famous British secret agent with a license to kill.
"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 selection of Villeneuve to steer the next film, along with his wife Tanya Lapointe as executive producer, is the biggest Bond-related decision yet to emerge from Amazon MGM. The American company took over creative control of the franchise in February from Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, representatives of the British American family that stewarded the Bond stories for decades.
The U.K.-based James Bond International Fan Club is welcoming Villeneuve's hiring, saying on its website that the choice "will delight Bond fans the world over."
"Welcome back, Mr. Bond. We've been expecting you," the group added.
When news first emerged that Amazon would send Bond on his next mission, it did not sit well with his English fans, who worried that American actors and themes might invade the world created by novelist Ian Fleming, a former British intelligence officer. The Telegraph's film critic wrote, "Amazon's Bond takeover is an assault on Britishness."
Villeneuve will be working with producers Amy Pascal (Challengers; Spider-Man) and David Heyman (Harry Potter; Paddington).
"We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker," the pair said in a statement.
There is no word yet on who will succeed actor Daniel Craig to portray Bond in the upcoming film, a casting decision that is a perennial source of speculation.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos sparked a guessing game online, asking, "Who'd you pick as the next Bond?" Many replies suggested Henry Cavill, the Superman actor. (Amazon is among NPR's financial supporters.)
In British media and betting houses, other potential Bond actors range from Aaron Taylor-Johnson of 28 Years Later and Kick-Ass to Aaron Pierre of Rebel Ridge and The Underground Railroad. More contenders are listed in recent roundups by British GQ and the gambling firm Ladbrokes.
As with any Bond film, Villeneuve's work will be judged against the catalog of films that came before it, stretching back to the 1960s.
That point was emphasized by a joke one fan told to NPR's Lauren Frayer, back in February:
"How many Bond fans does it take to change a light bulb?
"One, but 10 to complain about how much better the original was."
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