James Bond is back…
Well, at some point. Amazon MGM Studios provided little update on the upcoming 007 movie. The studio, which recently took over creative control of the spy series, has hired Denis Villeneuve to direct its next film. Given Villeneuve’s success with Dune, the move was widely praised, as was the decision to commission Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight to write the script.
Now Villeneuve and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman face the next big hurdle: finding the right actor to slip into Bond’s tuxedo. But Amazon MGM Studios executives would not reveal who they intended to ask to join Her Majesty’s Secret Service when they presented their upcoming movie schedule to movie theater owners at CinemaCon Wednesday night.
“Now, we know you’re all wondering when we’re going to announce who’s going to play James Bond,” said Courtney Valenti, head of film at Amazon MGM Studios. “Don’t get too excited. Please know that we are taking our time to do this carefully and with deep respect. Bringing this next chapter to audiences is a lifelong dream for all of us, and it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly.”
“What I can say is that by taking one of the most beloved franchises in history and teaming up with a world-class filmmaking team that includes brilliant director Denis Villeneuve, extraordinary producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, executive producer Tanya Lapointe and screenwriter Steven Knight, we are setting the stage for something truly worthy of the Bond legacy,” Valenti added. “The movie will be released soon. I’ll be able to share more when the time is right.”
Speculation is rife with rumors that everyone from Jacob Elordi to Callum Turner to Lewis Partridge are set to receive a license to kill a particular person. Whoever wins this role will have a huge responsibility. Daniel Craig was widely considered to be one of the greatest Bonds of all time, along with Sean Connery. His five films, including Skyfall and Casino Royale, were critical and commercial high points for the series. But he has permanently terminated his contract with Walther PPK, who played Bond in 2021’s No Time to Die, to join other women-killing, martini-drinking super spies in cinematic heaven.
Amazon wants to make Bond 26 a must-see. Control of the action series was the main reason the company spent more than $8 billion to acquire MGM Studios in 2022. This means that in terms of Bond adventures, Villeneuve is better off offering something closer to Goldfinger than A View to a Kill.
