Denis Villeneuve, Peaky Blinkers… What to expect from the next James Bond?

By Jordan Bako.

Published on 26 September 2025. Updated on 22 June 2026.

James Bond on the silver screen, a family matter

$1 billion. That’s the astronomical sum that Amazon MGM Studios had to pay to acquire “creative control” over the films based on the James Bond novels. It was a major decision, since EON Productions had been the sole producer of the adventures of Agent 007 on the silver screen since the release of the first film of the saga.

In July 1961, producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman founded EON Productions with one goal in mind: adapting Ian Fleming’s spy novels. The partners worked together for over 30 years before the death of Albert R. Broccoli, who eventually passed the torch to his daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. For sixty years, the teams at EON Productions threw themselves body and soul into the James Bond franchise.

A Marvel-style cinematic universe for James Bond?

The former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, which were co-producers of the films featuring Agent 007, have been bought out by Amazon, the business empire of tycoon Jeff Bezos, in 2021. According to the American media Deadline, tensions had arisen between Barbara Broccoli and Amazon MGM Studios regarding the future of the British spy. The two parties then reached an agreement and formed a new joint venture.

Amazon MGM would like to turn the James Bond saga into “an extended cinematic universe, just like the epic universes of Star Wars, Spider-Man or Marvel”. Initially opposed to the idea, Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson finally gave “creative control” to Amazon MGM after a long power struggle with the production studios. Producers Amy Pascal (Spider-Man, Little Women) and David Heyman (Harry Potter, Barbie) have recently been confirmed as producers of this new instalment, according to Deadline.

The creator of Peaky Blinders takes on screenwriting

On July 30th, 2025, further details emerged about the next James Bond film. Amazon MGM Studios recently confirmed that Steven Knight will pen the screenplay for the sequel. The British screenwriter is best known as the creator and writer of the acclaimed series Peaky Blinders, which saw Cillian Murphy deliver a standout performance as Thomas Shelby.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Josh O’Connor, Callum Turner… Who will be the new Agent 007?

This latest turn of events makes it hard to predict what the next adventures of Agent 007 will have in store for us or when the audience will be able to find out… October 2021 was the release date of No Time to Die. It marked the final film of the saga starring Daniel Craig as Agent 007. A final bow after fifteen years of good and loyal service…

Since then, Daniel Craig hasn’t found his successor. After Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan, the task of finding someone to step into the shoes of James Bond has been a daunting one. But the Internet is full of propositions… Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill, Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy, Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page and rising star Josh O’Connor are among those being considered to play the British spy. Callum Turner, Lashana Lynch and Lucien Laviscount are also said to be in the running.

As a matter of fact, Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos has called on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) users to know who they would like to see wearing Agent 007’s suit… Henry Cavill’s name has come up a lot in the suggestions. Singer Dua Lipa might also join her new husband, Callum Turner, and craft the soundtrack for this new chapter.

An unknown actor in the role of Agent 007?

Despite the speculation, the race to become the next James Bond took an unexpected turn on September 24th, 2025. According to Deadline, the new 007 could in fact be played by an actor still unknown to the audience and Hollywood. So say goodbye to your hopes of seeing Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi, or Harris Dickinson don the spy’s iconic tuxedo. Besides, the article reports that the casting team is looking for an actor in his twenties or early thirties, from Britain or another Commonwealth country.

While the identity of the new 007 has yet to be confirmed, it is already known that the next James Bond movie could be a prequel. The film will chart the spy’s earliest adventures. An announcement that could be a breath of fresh air in the world of Britain’s most famous secret agent.

A host of directors approached

Another source of debate until recently was the identity of the filmmaker who would direct the project. With No Time to Die (2021), director Cary Joji Fukunaga succeeded British filmmaker Sam Mendes. The latter directed the two previous instalments. For months, the list of contenders for the director’s chair continued to grow. Edward Berger (Conclave), Paul King (Paddington, Wonka), and Christopher Nolan’s brother, Jonathan Nolan (Westworld), were all reportedly on the shortlist. The names Quentin Tarantino, Greta Gerwig, Alfonso Cuarón (Roma, Gravity), and Guy Ritchie were also mentioned.

Some “outsiders” could have challenged the internet’s favourites. Chief among them was filmmaker, screenwriter, and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, best known as the creator of Fleabag. The British writer notably contributed to the screenplay of No Time to Die. According to Barbara Broccoli, CEO of EON Productions, the latter managed to bring “a fresh and modern perspective to James Bond.”

As the seventh highest-grossing director in cinema history, Christopher Nolan also shared his interest in directing a James Bond film. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in 2023, he explained that he would require complete creative control over the character of Agent 007 in order to do him justice.

Christopher Nolan to direct the upcoming opus

Finally, Amazon Studios, now steering the creative direction of the project, ultimately opted against the director of Oppenheimer (2023) and Interstellar (2014). Instead, it will be Denis Villeneuve, the filmmaker behind the Dune saga. The director had previously expressed his desire to direct a James Bond film. “I grew up with James Bond andI love the films in the franchise. I would love to direct a James Bond movie one day,” he shared to the online media ComingSoon.net. That dream has now become a reality…

Following Amazon’s announcement on June 25th, 2025, Denis Villeneuve made an offical statement: “I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred character. (…) I grew up watching James Bond films with my father. (…) 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.”

The title and release date of the new James Bond film remain unknown.

Traduction Emma Naroumbo Armaing.