James Bond is one of the most prolific characters of all time and the quintessential spy, and the franchise just dropped a bombshell on us. Amazon MGM Studios has revealed via an announcement on their website that filmmaking legend Denis Villenueve will be directing the next installment in the iconic 007 franchise.
Villenueve chimed in saying: “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…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. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”
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…”
To hear the iconic French Canadian filmmaker talk so passionately about a beloved franchise like James Bond should give a sigh of relief to diehard longtime fans, although there will always be critics. The Amy and David that Villenueve refers to in his statement are: Amy Pascal longtime Hollywood Executive that worked on ‘Spider-Man’ and ‘Venom’ movies amongst many others and David Heyman, who has produced ‘Harry Potter’ films, ‘Fantastic Beasts’, “Upon a Time in Hollywood” throughout an equally impressive resume. The Broccoli family were the original Bond bigwigs who were notoriously very controlling throughout the entire process, but it’s unclear how hands-on (or off) Pascal and Heyman will be for the 26th entry of the franchise.
how hands-on (or off) Pascal and Heyman will be for the 26th entry of the franchise. Although there is no definitive creative information about Villenueve’s ‘007’ film, we do know the future franchise Director is very busy with another beloved IP… Dune. “Dune: Messiah” is about to go into productions and is not set to be released until December of 2026, which would likely push a ‘Bond’ movie to 2027 or even 2028.
This will be the first ‘Bond’ movie released since Amazon’s bought the rights to produce the franchise from longtime Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, reportedly for $1 billion. This is a huge vote of confidence for Villenueve, who has proven himself on dated IP by resurrecting the old ‘Dune’ fan base successfully, Many esteemed Directors, including including Guy Ritchie have vied for the coveted honor of directing a ‘007’ installment, but the stars have aligned for Villenueve, even if some question whether his style will mesh with James Bond’s more action-packed, larger than life vibe. The ‘Dune’ Director also does not usually incorporate jokes of any kind in top his movies, which may be at odds with the typical ‘007’ outing.
Villenueve does have a distinct style, but has also prove more himself adaptable to different styles and fluid in speaking the same language as the IP he is dealing with. The French Canadian filmmaker’s does tend to have slower deliberate storytelling than one would expect from a traditional ‘James Bond’ movie, but it’s way too early to tell if he will be imposing that directorial choice on a film whose release date is likely more than 2 years away. Villenueve is used to having final-cut over his films, but that is unlikely given the notoriety of the particular franchise he has been hired to direct.
Pascal and Heyman have stated for sometime now that they would hire a Director and develop a script before they cast the next James Bond, so this move gets us one step closer to finding out who will don the suit for the next go at 007. Daniel Craig’s casting has been frowned upon by some, who have seen the more serious turn at the British super-spy as a swing and a miss. Fan favorite Pierce Brosnan has recently commented that he would love to return, but personally we think a fresher, younger, take on Bond is necessary. The 007 that is chosen will make or break the movie, especially how well he may gel with the Director’s style.
Villenueve has been nominated for 4 Academy Awards and won 7 Canadian Screen Awards, but this movie could dictate his legacy in Hollywood and he’s surely taking the responsibility very seriously.
What do you think? Will Villenueve incorporate a few funny moments into his ‘Bond’ movie? Or will he attempt to bend the beloved franchiser to his will? Who will be cast as 007? Please let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
