Progress on the highly anticipated Bond 26 is forging ahead, this time with the announcement of its new screenwriter. Serving as the first James Bond film in the franchise’s 63-year history not to directly involve the Broccoli family, in March this year Amazon MGM studios announced that producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman would steer the next James Bond outing.

Three months following the announcement of Pascal’s and Heyman’s appointment, Dune and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve was officially selected to helm Bond 26. Previously, both Oppenheimer ‘s Christopher Nolan and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’s Alfonso Cuarón had also been rumored to be in contention.

Per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, the Bond 26 creative team has added another critically acclaimed voice in the form of Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight. According to the original report, Knight was the first among several contenders to meet for the role and had only recently met with Villeneuve for his final sign-off.

What Steven Knight’s Appointment Means For Bond 26

Knight Already Has Experience With Spy Dramas

While fans are still waiting to learn who the next James Bond will be, this latest announcement bodes well for Amazon MGM’s plans to bring the beloved spy franchise into a new era. Having earned a slew of accolades for his previous projects, including a 2004 Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, Knight joins an already exciting creative team.

Perhaps best known for Peaky Blinders, Knight also has direct experience in crafting spy dramas courtesy of his 2024 miniseries The Veil. Moreover, his World War II-era historical drama SAS Rogue Heroes also charts the origins of Britain’s SAS commandos, with whom Bond creator Ian Fleming would have worked in his capacity as a British Naval Intelligence officer.

With a proven track record of creating engaging characters, many of whom operate within illicit or clandestine environments, Knight seems like an excellent choice to shape the next chapter of the Bond franchise.

Our Take On Steven Knight’s James Bond Script

Could Amazon MGM Studios Be Crafting A Cold War-Era Bond?

While Knight has set many of his scripts in modern times, including his 2024 spy thriller, he is best known for crafting historical dramas. With the likes of Peaky Blinders, SAS Rogue Heroes and Taboo showcasing his skills as a writer, his appointment will likely have many fans wondering whether his script could present viewers with a historical take on 007.

Originally created during the height of the Cold War, the more recent James Bond movies have often struggled to justify the character’s relevance in the world of modern espionage. While the prospect of setting Bond 26 back during the character’s original heyday may seem unlikely, there would probably be no better writer to do it.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline