Oscar-nominated Canadian filmmaker Villeneuve to direct next James Bond film

Fresh from his success with the "Dune" saga, Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to direct the next movie in the storied James Bond franchise, Amazon MGM Studios announced Wednesday.

Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie, Amazon MGM Studios said on Wednesday (June 25, 2025). Mike Hopkins, head of Amazon MGM Studios, hailed Villeneuve's track record and praised him for "immersive storytelling." "We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond's next chapter," he said in the statement.

Oscar-nominated Canadian filmmaker Villeneuve, who recently enjoyed the success of the "Dune" saga, said he grew up watching Bond films with his father. "I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory.”


"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," he further stated. There is, however, no word yet on who will play Her Majesty's spy.

Amazon MGM Studios, the online retail giant, has tapped a filmmaker very much in vogue in Hollywood as he makes his first foray into the world of the now-iconic British agent 007, first brought to life seven decades ago by writer Ian Fleming.

Daniel Craig's final portrayal of James Bond came in 2021 following the release of "No Time to Die." Since then, 007 has seen many twists and turns. Amazon paid nearly $8.45 billion to buy legendary Hollywood studio MGM in 2022, which included distribution rights to Bond's extensive back catalog.

But for the subsequent three years, the retail behemoth was met with resistance from Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, the franchise's historic producers who for decades had jealously guarded the governance of one of cinema's most valuable properties.

The company run by Jeff Bezos finally reached a financial agreement with the pair in February to take creative control of the franchise.