Amazon MGM Studios has named Denis Villeneuve as director of the next installment in the James Bond franchise, marking a new chapter for 007 as the studio assumes creative control for the first time since acquiring MGM in 2022.

Villeneuve, the Oscar-nominated French Canadian director known for Dune, Blade Runner 2049, and Arrival, was selected from a competitive list of contenders, including Edward Berger (Conclave), Paul King (Paddington 2), Edgar Wright (Baby Driver), and Jonathan Nolan (Westworld).

In a statement released by Amazon MGM Studios, Villeneuve called the assignment “a huge honor,” adding, “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.”

The yet-untitled film will be produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman, in collaboration with executive producer Tanya Lapointe, Villeneuve’s longtime partner. The project marks a major creative decision for Amazon MGM since it assumed full production control from longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson earlier this year. While Wilson and Broccoli remain co-owners through a joint venture, creative oversight now belongs to Amazon.

No release date has been set, and the next Bond actor has yet to be cast following Daniel Craig’s 2021 departure in No Time to Die. Villeneuve is currently preparing to direct Dune: Messiah, expected to premiere in late 2026.

Amazon acquired MGM in 2022 for $8.25 billion, gaining access to the studio’s vast movie and TV catalog, including the distribution rights to all 27 Bond films. The Bond franchise, launched in 1962 with Dr. No, remains MGM’s most valuable intellectual property, with the most recent film, No Time to Die, grossing over $770 million worldwide.