Denis Villeneuve has been appointed to direct the next James Bond film, Amazon MGM Studios has announced.
The Canadian filmmaker and four-time Academy Award nominee has earned both critical acclaim and box office success with the Dune franchise, as well as with Prisoners, Sicario, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049.
Watch: Denis Villeneuve talks to RTÉ Entertainment's Alan Corr on the eve of Dune's release in October 2021
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In a statement, Villeneuve described himself as a "die-hard" James Bond fan.
"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," he said.
"I'm a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honour 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 honour."
Villeneuve will also serve as executive producer, alongside his wife Tanya Lapointe.
His appointment marks the latest step in a major overhaul of the iconic British spy franchise, following Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson handing over creative control to Amazon MGM Studios as part of a lucrative deal.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Broccoli family, long the force behind the Bond films, agreed to co-own the intellectual property and granted Amazon the ability to move forward without their creative approval.
In March, Spider-Man's Amy Pascal and Harry Potter's David Heyman were announced as new producers.
The pair have consistently maintained that they would secure a director and develop a screenplay before casting the next super spy.
Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said he was "honoured" to have the acclaimed director on board.
"He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself. From Blade Runner 2049 to Arrival to the Dune films, he has delivered compelling worlds, dynamic visuals, complex characters, and - most importantly - the immersive storytelling that global audiences yearn to experience in theatres," he said.
"James Bond is in the hands of one of today's greatest filmmakers and we cannot wait to get started on 007's next adventure."
Daniel Craig bowed out as Bond in 2021's No Time to Die.
Source: Press Association
