Four years after the release of No Time to Die, Bond 26 has finally found its director. Now that Amazon has full creative control of the franchise, notable directors like Jonathan Nolan, Edgar Wright, and Alfonso Cuarón reportedly recently pitched their visions for the upcoming Bond 26. However, Amazon has officially hired Denis Villeneuve to direct Bond 26.

Now that the acclaimed filmmaker behind movies such as Dune, Blade Runner 2049, and Sicario has been hired for the highly coveted job, a script for Bond 26 can be written. Afterwards, Amazon can turn their attention to casting the next James Bond. Currently, actors like Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Theo James, and Henry Cavill are seen as favorites to play 007.

A lot of actors dream of playing James Bond their whole life, so it should be interesting to learn who will portray the iconic spy next. However, just like the actors, Villeneuve has dreamed of being part of the James Bond franchise for a long time. In fact, Villeneuve expressed interest in making a James Bond movie earlier in his career.

Denis Villeneuve Is Directing James Bond 26

Villeneuve Is A Die-Hard James Bond Fan

Since Bond 26 will start a new era for the franchise, Amazon needed to find a great director. Thankfully, given his track record with major blockbusters, Villeneuve seems like the perfect choice to direct Bond 26. In addition to his previous blockbusters, Villeneuve’s love of the James Bond franchise also proves why he’s the perfect director for the upcoming spy movie.

After it was officially announced that he would helm Bond 26, Villeneuve issued a statement and discussed his love for the franchise. The director explained that watching the James Bond films as a child helped him fall in love with movies. Additionally, he emphasized the mᴀssive responsibility directing Bond 26 is and described the character as “sacred.“ Read his full comments below:

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. 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 mᴀssive 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.

Based on his statement, it is clear that Villeneuve understands why people love the spy franchise and the character of James Bond so much. It seems like he is truly honored to direct the next James Bond movie, and is excited to leave his mark on the franchise. Therefore, I’m already confident that Amazon made a great choice by hiring Villeneuve for the first movie in this new era.

Denis Villeneuve Spoke About Wanting To Direct Bond Back In 2015

Villeneuve’s Previous Movies Have Definitely Been Inspired By James Bond

Villeneuve’s words about how much James Bond means to him are even more joyous to read after learning he’s been waiting to make a film in the spy franchise for a long time. Way back in 2015, ahead of the release of Sicario, Villeneuve admitted he would love to make a James Bond movie. He said:

It’s strange, because I understand that each genre has its own specific rules, but for me, they are all movies. I’m just attracted to try to do different things, and I was very excited to make a movie that required more action. I was raised with James Bond. I love James Bond movies. I would love to do a James Bond movie one day. Action is very cinematic. I’m not someone that loves dialogue – I am someone that loves movement. Action, if it’s well done, can be very poetic and meaningful.

At this point in his career, Villeneuve was already on the rise as a director, having helmed acclaimed films like Incendies, Prisoners, and Enemy. However, he definitely was not at the level he is today. Therefore, actually directing a James Bond movie may have seemed like a pipe dream for Villeneuve at the time.

Before the release of Sicario, many fans likely wouldn’t have chosen Villeneuve to be the next James Bond director either. After all, the aforementioned Incendies, Prisoners, and Enemy don’t have a lot in common with James Bond films. However, over the last decade, Villeneuve has consistently proven himself as a big-budget director and showcased why he is the perfect choice for Bond 26.

Him speaking about the James Bond franchise way back in 2015 makes Villeneuve’s journey to Bond 26 all the more fascinating. His recent statement has already made this clear, but these comments from 2015 once again prove that Villeneuve has had a personal connection to the James Bond franchise for a long time. Therefore, I can’t wait to see what he does with Bond 26.

Sicario Shows How Great A Villeneuve Bond Movie Could Be

Sicario Is An Incredible Action/Thriller Movie

While movies like Incendies, Prisoners, and Enemy mostly focus on character drama and don’t include too many action sequences, Sicario is the first film of Villeneuve’s career that truly proved he is an exceptional action director. Therefore, if you still have doubts about the newly announced Bond 26 director, watch Sicario immediately.

Sicario follows an FBI agent who joins a task force to fight against drug cartels. Villeneuve directed a lot of thrilling action sequences for the movie, such as the border crossing scene and the tunnel shootout at the end of the film. Sicario is one of Denis Villeneuve’s best movies and shows what Bond 26 may end up looking like.

While the director has become known as one of the best science fiction filmmakers of all time, Sicario is a reminder that he can also make very grounded movies. Sicario features complex characters and an intriguing plot that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, which is exactly what Bond 26 needs. Because of Sicario, I have no doubt Bond 26 will be amazing.

Denis Villeneuve Is The Perfect Director To Refresh James Bond

Bond 26 Could Be One Of The Best Movies In The Franchise

Because of Villeneuve’s previous movies, I actually think Bond 26 could end up being one of the best films in the entire franchise. Since it will start a new era for the spy series, Amazon needs to ensure Bond 26 is a major hit. Thankfully, Amazon hiring Villeneuve proves that it is serious about making the next entry in the series as good as it can be.

Since Villeneuve is considered an auteur director, he is best-suited to refresh James Bond for Amazon’s new era. Daniel Craig’s James Bond films were already all very character-driven, but Villeneuve could potentially unveil more layers of 007, making him even more complex. This is risky, since James Bond is such a beloved character, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Villeneuve.

In doing so, Villeneuve can deliver a James Bond movie that audiences are not expecting. Since the franchise has been around since 1962, now is the perfect time to give fans something new. Therefore, I believe Villeneuve is the perfect director for Bond 26, and I’m thrilled that he can finally fulfill his longtime dream of directing a film in the spy franchise.