Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond film

Denis Villeneuve, the Oscar nominated French-Canadian filmmaker, will direct the next James Bond film, Amazon MGM Studios has announced.

In a statement released by the studio, Villeneuve says he is a “die-hard James Bond fan” and intends to “honor the tradition” of the franchise.

Villeneuve will also serve as executive producer of the new film and has received global acclaim for his recent take on the Dune franchise, along with hits such as “Blade Runner 2049” and “Arrival“.

“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,” Villeneuve said in a statement on Wednesday.

“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.”

Head of Amazon MGM Studios, Mike Hopkins, said on Wednesday: “We are honoured that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond’s next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself … 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.”

Sources: BBC and The Guardian

Full announcement of Amazon here

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