Denis Villeneuve to direct first James Bond movie underneath Amazon MGM
Denis Villeneuve goes from “Dune” to Bond.
Amazon MGM Studios introduced Wednesday that Villeneuve will direct the subsequent James Bond film. The untitled movie would be the first because the studio took inventive reins of the storied movie franchise after many years of management by the Broccoli household.
Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman had maintained that earlier than the subsequent Bond is solid, they might develop a screenplay and discover a director first. Now, they’ve one of the vital revered blockbuster makers in Hollywood, who’s coming off a pair of broadly acclaimed “Dune” movies.
In a press release, the 57-year-old French Canadian filmmaker stated he grew up watching Bond films.
“I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory,” Villeneuve stated. “I intend to honor the custom and open the trail for a lot of new missions to come back. This can be a huge accountability, but in addition, extremely thrilling for me and an enormous honor.”
Since taking inventive management of Bond in February, Amazon MGM has labored rapidly to get the subsequent film going. The studio can be attempting to win over followers skeptical of the brand new company management and the terrified of future spinoffs.
“James Bond is within the arms of one among immediately’s biggest filmmakers,” stated Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios.
With Pascal and Heyman lodged as producers and Villeneuve behind the digital camera, the subsequent Bond film can have an enviable mind belief. Villeneuve beat out a discipline of administrators floated for the film together with Edward Berger (“Conclave”), Paul King (“Paddington 2”), Edgar Wright (“Child Driver”) and Jonathan Nolan, co-creator of “Westworld” and brother to Christopher Nolan.
“Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond films since he was a bit of boy,” stated Pascal and Heyman. “It was all the time his dream to make this film, and now it’s ours, too.”
No launch date has been introduced for the subsequent Bond film. Villeneuve will shoot the third “Dune” movie this summer time. If manufacturing on Bond started subsequent yr, a launch someday in 2027 could be probably.
Villeneuve’s first two “Dune” movies have collectively surpassed $1 billion in field workplace worldwide and been nominated for a mixed 15 Academy Awards, profitable seven. His different movies embrace “Blade Runner 2049,” “Arrival,” “Sicario,” “Prisoners,” “Enemy” and “Incendies.”
Amazon purchased MGM Studios in 2022 for $8.5 billion, however didn’t acquire inventive management of the studio’s most prized asset till this yr. Till this movie, each Bond director has been handpicked by the Broccolis.