It's official: the next James Bond movie will be directed by Dune helmer Denis Villeneuve, who says 007 is "sacred territory" for him

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Not everyone is pleased with the pick, however

Denis Villeneuve at a screening of Dune
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Next James Bond director Denis Villeneuve is saying all the right things as he promises to "honor the tradition" of 007 and "open the path for many new missions to come."

As revealed overnight, Villeneuve – who is undoubtedly one of the 21st Century's most accomplished directors, with the likes of Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival on his resume, will take the reins in Bond 26,; though the all-important new Bond casting has yet to be decided.

In a statement, Villeneuve said, "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.”

Pascal and Heyman added, “Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it’s ours, too. We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker.”

Another chimed in, "Another modern Bond film led by a big-name director who feels they have to ‘fix’ the franchise. Yippee…"

Bradley Russell
Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

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