It’s official: Denis Villeneuve is directing the next James Bond movie for Amazon MGM. The Dune director is a longtime fan of the franchise – and he has a firm favorite.
It’s been nearly four years since Daniel Craig bowed out as Bond in No Time to Die (as it turned out, there was).
Since then, it’s felt like the Bond makers have taken all the time in the world to decide what to do next. The series’ caretakers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have since relinquished creative control to Amazon, marking the end of an enormous cinematic era – and the beginning of a new one.
Villeneuve has been tapped to direct the franchise’s relaunch (with Dune’s Tanya Lapointe as executive producer alongside David Heyman and Amy Pascal). It’s unclear when the movie will be released, who will star in it, or which Ian Fleming story (if any) they’ll adapt. But we do know what kind of Bond film Villeneuve likes.
Denis Villeneuve names his favorite Bond movie
Villeneuve’s favorite James Bond movie is Casino Royale (Craig’s 2006 film, not David Niven’s 1967 spoof).
In a 2021 interview with Ali Plumb, the filmmaker was asked if he had any guilty pleasures. “I’m a major Bond fan, and there’s nothing like a good James Bond to cheer you up,” he said.
He was then asked if there’s a “particular Bond [he] turns to” when he’s in the mood. “I will say that Casino Royale, the first Daniel Craig, is still one of my favorites of all time,” he said.
Villeneuve is also a fan of Skyfall. “I went through these movies several times in difficult periods,” he added.
That’s not to say Villeneuve doesn’t appreciate the full spectrum of Bond, from Sean Connery through George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan.
“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,” he said in a statement after Amazon announced the news.
“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, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”
Sanders: “Se l'IA è così brava ridurre la settimana lavorativa a quattro giorni”