Exciting news about 007 dropped yesterday! Just four months after we heard that Amazon MGM Studios took the reins of the James Bond franchise, everyone’s buzzing about who might direct the next Bond film. Funnily enough, this news came as I had just posted a series review starring a former Bond actor, Pierce Brosnan 😀
Honestly, I’m just as intrigued by the Bond director selection as I am about who will step into the shoes of 007, a role that Daniel Craig left behind in 2021. Well, color me surprised to read that Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to direct the next James Bond film! Amazon MGM Studios has revealed that Villeneuve’s longtime producing partner and wife, Tanya Lapointe, a filmmaker and former journalist, will serve as executive producer.
This is the Canadian filmmaker’s statement per Variety:
“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 (Pascal), David (Heyman), and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”
I’ve been a fan of Villeneuve for ages and have watched most of his movies: Arrival, Sicario, Enemy, along with Blade Runner 2049 and the two Dune films. I always felt that BR 2049 is seriously underrated, and he definitely deserved Oscar nominations for his work in DUNE and DUNE Part Two. With the last two major franchise films, Villeneuve has shown he’s incredibly skilled at revitalizing and managing established intellectual properties, making them feel fresh again somehow.
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Now, I had mentioned in my post here that I had read Barbara Broccoli might be pushing for a female director to take the helm of a Bond film. Here’s what I said: Kathryn Bigelow seems like an obvious choice, but I’d love to see other talented female directors like Gina Prince-Bythewood or Sam Taylor-Johnson (whose husband, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, has been touted to be the next Bond) put their stamp on it, too!
Just for kicks, check out this post I made over a decade ago as to who my friend Ted Saydalavong and I would like to see direct a Bond movie, most of them could still be a good pick!
007 Chatter: Seven directors wishlist for the next Bond movie
Well, I’m not at all disappointed that they went with Villeneuve. Per Deadline, he has been rumored as one of the high-profile directors being looked at for the project, alongside the likes of Edward Berger (Conclave), Edgar Wright (the Cornetto trilogy), Jonathan Nolan (Westworld, Fallout series), and Paul King (the Paddington franchise). Earlier, the sense was that Alfonso Cuarón, a frequent collaborator of producer Heyman, might be taking the gig.
I chuckled a bit seeing Paul King’s name, it’d be amusing if he had gotten the job as he had worked with Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington, and he played Q in Craig’s Bond movies! I’m not really shocked that Christopher Nolan isn’t included on the list, even though he’s shown his love for the franchise before. Perhaps he’s become unattainable at this stage of his career, plus he’s busy working on his next star-studded epic, Odyssey.
I already have another Bond-related post about casting, that is who I’d love to see as the next 007… that’s for another time, but just for kicks, check out this list I made with my pal Ted S. as who I’d love to see as the next Bond (most of them are too old now though).
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Him doing a Bond film will be cool but I would be more comfortable if Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson are involved instead of Jeff Bezos. I hate that asshole.
I know!! I’m still mourning the departure of Broccoli and Wilson who actually cared about the project, I mean JB is too busy ruining the environment while getting married in Venice, I feel terrible for all those people living there!
I’m not surprised by who is there such as the Kartrashians, Ivanka, her dumbass husband Jared, Oprah, her bestie Gayle, and a bunch of awful people but I am surprised that Leonardo diCaprio is there as I also saw that Sydney Sweeney is there (I just found out she’s friends with Sanchez)…. ugh….
This was definitely a surprised announcement. I really thought Amazon was going to try and get Nolan but I assume they don’t want to wait too long to release another Bond film. With Nolan still deep in shooting his latest film, the earliest they can release another Bond will likely be in the next decade since Nolan likes to take his time with his films.
With Denis Villeneuve, he seems to be able to churn out big films quite fast. His last three films were huge budget productions. I think it’s a good choice and I’ll be curious what time of style he’ll bring to the new 007.
Hey there Ted! Well, Jonathan Nolan was rumored to direct, but no mention of Christopher. I think he’s too busy with Odyssey and like you said, he’s the kind of director who wouldn’t want to be limited by certain rules.
I think Denis Villeneuve is an inspired choice, he’s very efficient, knows how to tell a complex story and he gets great performances from his actors. It’ll be a fresh style coming from him I think.
Denis Villeneuve is a great choice, though it looks like a long wait as Dune: Messiah has not even started shooting yet. Gives them more time to find the next Bond and a new direction for the character.
Hey Patrick! Yeah I’m curious how Denis will balance doing Bond AND Dune: Messiah, but maybe he’ll do Bond first? I’m very curious what fresh take he’ll do for this 60+ year-old franchise!
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Big fan of Denis Villeneuve!
Big Fan of James Bond (since childhood)
Go Canada! Lol… (Pardon, but I’m all giddy about this!)
Now, for a fab 007!
xoxo
I’m thrilled for Denis as well, and Amazon MGM is lucky to get such a phenomenal filmmaker to take the 60+-year-old franchise to the new frontier, as it were. Go Canada indeed!! I am curious who Denis would pick as 007.
Hmm, well, as long as it’s not DiCaprio, McConaughey, Affleck or Damon.
Umm, I like Christian Bale, (but might have just missed the boat age wise), Benedict Cumberbatch
Richard Madden, Sam Claflin, Aaron Taylor Johnson (maybe a bit young to get on the boat) as with Alex Pettyfer.
Kit Harrington (if they rough him up)
Not sure, But I would not be surprised if Villeneuve pulled an under the radar actor out of his hat!
Ahahaha, I think the new Bond actor would have to be in their 30s, late 30s max as they’d have to sign for at least 3 movies so anyone over 40 would be too old. Aaron Taylor Johnson has long been rumored to be Bond, but I like Sam Claflin idea! Well, I have my 5 picks, I just have to post two of the new release reviews first… but Aaron is on my list!
I like the idea of an under-the-radar actor and I have at least 3 actors in their 30s that fit that criteria 😉 It’s so fun speculating about Bond actor!! 😀
Ryan Reynolds might cross his mind.
Ryan is almost 50! So a no go in terms of age, plus Bond should be from the UK I think (Brits, Scots, Irish, Welsh) though Lazenby is from Australia, so you never know!
I agree, but… the Bonds’ accents aren’t that heavy, so a great actor from most English speaking areas could cover it.
You never know!
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