Denis Villeneuve known for Dune, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 has officially been named the next James Bond director.
The announcement was made by Amazon MGM Studios making this the first time that the franchise has gone forward under the full creative control of Amazon.
Villeneuve will also serve as an executive producer of the movie.
The director acknowledged that he is a long-time admirer of Bond claiming that he appreciates “the serious responsibility it represents”. The Amazon MGM leadership has referred to him as one of the best filmmakers working.
Joining Villeneuve are now Tanya Lapointe, Amy Pascal and David Heyman—all accomplished producers who have extensive experience working on blockbuster franchises including Spider-Man and Harry Potter.
This will be the the 28th film in the series, which is viewed as a rebirth after the production of the previous film No Time to Die from 2021, which mapped out Daniel Craig's time in the Bond role.
While there are currently no confirmed cast members, the studio has begun working on the screenplay and early pre-production stages. The decision to bring Villeneuve onboard is a sign of Amazon's commitment to continue vying for the series' historical legacy while seeking new creative paths.
Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond film.
— Variety (@Variety) June 25, 2025
“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… pic.twitter.com/Uc7W9Dpblm
Film Expected by 2027; Casting Still Undecided
With Villeneuve now involved, Amazon MGM is entering preliminary development for the next Bond film. The studio is yet to announce who will play James Bond, but a few actors—including Aaron Taylor-Johnson and James Norton—are documented in casting speculation as have never been confirmed officially.
The screenplay is being worked on, but production is anticipated to start no earlier than 2026. Villeneuve is still working on post-production for Dune: Messiah, which is slated to finish up later this year. After this project is finished, it is likely his focus with shift completely to Bond.
Amazon is reportedly targeting a potential release of sometime late 2027, but this depends on the writing process, casting process, and others aspects of production. The transition of leadership leaves behind a franchise that has been carefully initiated and managed for decades by the Broccoli family via Eon Productions.
With a new creative team and a leading director of this generation, the James Bond franchise moves out of a cocoon. Whether the character will experience a significant reinvention or a familiar revisit is not yet known, but this transitions raises high expectations for what comes next.
