Alright, let me quickly guide you as to what I know about Denis Villeneuve’s potential, rumored, involvement in directing the next James Bond.
A week ago, an in-the-know Bond fanatic, that I’ve known for a little while, and who seems privy to knowing all the gossip around the franchise, emailed me that, according to a Bond-connected source of his, the “secret film” Villeneuve was alluding to the other week was indeed the next Bond film.
There’s a reason why I didn’t publish this. Not too long after receiving this email, I quickly asked Villeneuve’s longtime rep for comment on the story and she responded by saying that it was “pure speculation” and that, as of this moment, Villeneuve is not planning on directing Bond 26. She added that Villeneuve has had only one meeting with Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and that it occured right before he shot the first ‘Dune’ in 2021.
Now, I have to tackle this next story, because I’ve gotten more than a few emails about it today. The not-always-reliable Daily Mail is claiming, in an “exclusive”, that Villeneuve is, in fact, directing the next Bond. Not just that, apparently, the next “Bond girl” is either Sydney Sweeney and Zendaya, or both.
In April 2023, rumors of Villeneuve directing Bond were VERY present online. Another none-too-reliable outlet, DeuxMoi, had started the Villeneuve/Bond connections. They claimed that the filmmaker had become the #1 target for Broccoli.
In 2021, on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Villeneuve, who is a self-admitted Bond connoiseur, said it would be a dream for him to direct a movie in the franchise, if he were ever asked:
Franky — and I cannot believe I would say that — but the answer would be a massive yes. I would deeply love to one day make a James Bond movie,” Villeneuve said. “It’s a character that I’ve been with — like everybody — since my childhood. I have massive affection for Bond. It would be a big challenge for people to try and reboot it after what Daniel did. What Daniel Craig brought to Bond was so unique and strong and probably unmatchable. He’s the ultimate James Bond. I can’t wait to see Cary’s movie. I’m very excited. I’m one of the biggest Bond fans.
A few years ago, Villeneuve came very close in directing Daniel Craig's last film as Bond, “No Time to Die,” and it had been reported, by Deadline’s Baz Bamigboye, that Craig actively pursued him. However Villeneuve turned it down as he got the “Dune” offer, which was his dream film since childhood. Cary Fukunaga ended up getting the “Not Time to Die” gig instead.
Villeneuve recently confirmed that he has “four projects on the table.” We already know about “Dune: Messiah,” “Rendezvous with Rama” and “Cleopatra,” which is being written by “1917” scribe Krysty Wilson-Cairns. What’s the fourth one? He said that it was a “time sensitive” mystery project.
One of them is a secret project that I cannot talk about right now, but that needs to see the light of day quite quickly.
Back in 2021, Noah Baumbach signed a multi-year deal with Netflix that committed him to writing and directing several films for the streamer over the following years. He made two, and now he's gone.