Denis Villeneuve, the visionary behind Dune and Blade Runner 2049, has officially signed on to direct the next installment in the James Bond franchise, Amazon MGM Studios announced Tuesday. The filmmaker will be joined by executive producer Tanya Lapointe, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing under their respective banners, Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films.

Villeneuve, a lifelong fan of the franchise, called the opportunity both “massive” and “sacred.”

“Some of my earliest movie memories are of watching Bond films with my father,” Villeneuve said in a statement. “To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honor that tradition while opening a path to many new missions to come. This is a huge responsibility—but also an incredible thrill and honor. Amy, David and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for your trust.”

Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, hailed the director’s appointment: “We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct Bond’s next chapter. He’s a masterful storyteller whose body of work—Arrival, Sicario, Dune—speaks for itself. He builds immersive worlds, crafts complex characters, and understands the kind of cinema audiences yearn for. Bond is in extraordinary hands.”

Producers Pascal and Heyman echoed that sentiment: “Denis has dreamed of directing a Bond movie since he was a boy. Now it’s our dream too. We feel incredibly lucky to be collaborating with such an extraordinary filmmaker.”

The announcement comes amid a seismic shift for the James Bond property. In 2021, Amazon acquired MGM in a blockbuster $8.5 billion deal, giving the streamer a significant stake in the franchise. Until recently, Amazon had limited creative say, with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson retaining artistic control. But that changed in February when Broccoli, Wilson, and Amazon MGM reached a landmark joint venture agreement to co-own the franchise’s intellectual property and chart a shared future.

At April’s CinemaCon, Amazon execs Courtenay Valenti and Sue Kroll teased the reboot: “Amy and David are already hard at work on what we know will be a fresh, exhilarating new chapter in Bond’s legacy.”

Villeneuve’s appointment signals Amazon MGM’s intent to swing big. The Oscar-nominated French-Canadian auteur has proven his command of legacy IP with Blade Runner 2049 and reshaped the tentpole landscape with Dune and its sequel. Dune: Messiah is currently in development at Warner Bros., with a 2026 release date.

The move also raises one tantalizing question: Who will inherit the tuxedo and Walther PPK as the next 007?

As speculation swirls, one thing is clear—Bond’s next chapter will be cinematic, cerebral, and distinctly Villeneuve.

Villeneuve is repped by CAA, Carlos Goodman, and ID.