In a move that caught many off guard, Denis Villeneuve has been chosen to helm the next instalment in the James Bond franchise. The decision, kept tightly under wraps within Amazon MGM’s upper ranks, reportedly blindsided a few, including some of the studio’s own executives.
Puck’s Matt Belloni is reporting that Villeneuve’s leap into the Bond-verse is going to be a one-off affair. Additionally, he won’t have final cut on the film and isn’t locked in for any sequels, spin-offs, or streaming offshoots. Still, there are hints that the new regime, headed by Amy Pascal and David Heyman, isn’t interested in micromanaging auteurs into studio yes-men.
That said, Villeneuve’s leash here is notably short. No final cut. No creative continuity beyond this one film. Amazon doesn’t want to hand over the entire sandbox after just one movie, a trend we’ve seen across the industry as studios grow wary of directors planting long-term flags in valuable IP.
Meanwhile, according to The InSneider, Villeneuve was among five directors who pitched their vision for the rebooted Bond era, a shortlist that included Edward Berger (“Conclave”), Paul King (“Wonka”), Jonathan Nolan (“Fallout”), and Edgar Wright (“Baby Driver”). While several contenders had compelling takes, sources say the final choice came down to Villeneuve and Berger. The studio ultimately went with the more cinematic, and undoubtedly more expensive, option.
Insiders were surprised the deal even came together at all. “Everyone is stunned they picked Denis,” said one source, pointing to both his sky-high asking price and famously packed schedule. Yet, let’s be honest: King was never going to direct a Bond movie. J. Nolan’s never directed a feature. Wright is too cheeky for 007. His only other true competitor was Berger.
One notable shift: Amazon MGM seems to be moving on from longtime Bond scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, who’ve been behind the wheel for every Craig-era entry (plus two Brosnan films). The new team is aiming for a clean slate.
According to the report, Amazon MGM’s current plan is to bring on a co-writer who will begin scripting the film based on Villeneuve’s concept while the director finishes post-production on “Dune: Messiah.” Once ‘Messiah’ wraps, Villeneuve is expected to refine the draft, reshaping it to fit his own sensibilities before the casting process begins.