Latest news with #BladeRunner2049
Pink Villa
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
New Details on Bond 26: Denis Villeneuve to Direct with Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi Among Frontrunners
After years of speculation, Amazon MGM has officially confirmed that Denis Villeneuve will direct the 26th James Bond film—making this the first 007 installment under a new studio's leadership. The Dune director has stepped into one of cinema's most iconic roles behind the camera. Villeneuve has also promised both reverence for the franchise and a new trajectory for the series. With an estimated 2028 release, the film remains in early development, but the studio is already narrowing down possible leads and writers. Villeneuve's vision and Amazon's new era Denis Villeneuve, whose filmography includes Blade Runner 2049, Arrival, and Sicario, called Bond 'sacred territory' in a statement, acknowledging his lifelong admiration for the spy series. He joins the project as executive producer alongside Tanya Lapointe, but does not hold final cut or a multi-film deal. The upcoming movie signals a major shift in the Bond franchise—formerly tightly controlled by the Broccoli family, who relinquished creative rights to Amazon earlier this year after six decades of stewardship. With Dune: Messiah already in pre-production, Villeneuve's Bond version will not enter full-scale production for at least two years. Still, sources tell Variety that the studio is accelerating development by seeking a screenwriter and finalizing casting preferences. Casting focus: Will there be a younger James Bond? Reportedly, Amazon MGM is targeting actors under 30 for the next James Bond. Early favorites include Jacob Elordi, known for Euphoria and Saltburn; Tom Holland, star of Spider-Man and Uncharted; and Harris Dickinson, who appeared in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Babygirl. While no official talks have begun, the studio appears intent on rejuvenating Bond with a new generation. Older fan picks like Henry Cavill and Aaron Taylor-Johnson are reportedly out of contention due to age. Jonathan Nolan was considered to write the script, per insiders, but his current commitments to other Amazon projects likely rule him out. A shortlist of other writers is under review as the studio shapes what could be a very different kind of Bond film.
Spectator
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
James Bond should be more like Paddington Bear
Denis Villeneuve, the Oscar-nominated director of such blockbuster behemoths as Dune and Blade Runner 2049, has been hired to reboot the James Bond franchise. Villeneuve is a hugely capable director, somewhat in the Christopher Nolan school of blending epic set-pieces with an intellectual and emotional core. As the first auteur to be hired to direct a Bond film – a gig he has made clear he'd like for the last decade – he promises to bring a unique sensibility to it that will, hopefully, ensure that critics and audiences alike go doolally when it's released sometime around 2027. I will not be one of them. Much as I admire Villeneuve, I don't think I've laughed once during any of his films, which tend to take themselves very seriously indeed. When the shortlist of rumoured directors for the Bond picture was leaked, there were other similarly grave filmmakers on it – including Nolan's younger brother Jonathan and Conclave director Edward Berger – but the name that really stood out for me was Paddington and Wonka director Paul King, who was apparently a serious contender for the much-coveted gig. The idea of 'Bond meets Paddington' might seem an unlikely one, but had King been hired, it is almost a given that he would have steered the franchise away from darkness. The franchise became comically obsessed with such edginess during the Daniel Craig era. While nobody is seriously suggesting that the next Bond film should cast a predominantly comic actor (such as the brilliant Joshua McGuire, currently stealing the show in the BBC's The Gold), the last few films were so grim and downbeat that Bond's all-but-inevitable death scene in No Time to Die almost came as a relief. Audiences left the cinema blinking in disbelief and asked, 'Did they really kill off 007?' The next film has to resurrect both the character and the franchise. I am concerned that Villeneuve will double down on the darkness and grandiosity of Craig-era Bond. Doing so would be to ignore the lessons of earlier pictures. The Roger Moore films often verged on self-parody (viz A View to a Kill and Octopussy, both of which have aged poorly) but in the case of his finest hour, The Spy Who Loved Me, it achieved the perfect blend of excitement, spectacle and much-needed humour – not least in its legendary pre-credits sequence. It supposedly had audiences standing up at its premiere and cheering when Bond opened his Union Jack parachute. And Moore was always underrated as 007, too. Suave and charming, of course, but with an occasional viciousness. That stood out all the more effectively because of its juxtaposition with the one-liners and (often groanworthy) puns. Bond is not a great British icon because he mopes about his dead parents An awful lot is riding on the success of the next Bond film. Amazon MGM, who now own the rights to the character, are clearly thinking in terms of expanding the intellectual property of the 007 universe. If there must be spin-offs, let it be the young Blofeld, not the early adventures of Miss Moneypenny. What I would suggest to Villeneuve and the film's producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal, should they be reading this, is to bring in a sense of levity and fun again – something that has been sorely lacking for a while. Bond is not a great British icon because he mopes about his dead parents and kills strangers viciously. He is beloved because of the one-liners, leavening moments of comedy. I doubt that the old cheesy seduction scenes have much of a role in the cinema of 2027, and perhaps character names like Xenia Onatopp and Pussy Galore have had their day, too. But the opportunity to make Bond a genuinely enjoyable character – shaken-not-stirred martinis, self-parodic introductions et al – is one that the filmmakers should not pass up. Otherwise, you can have all the spectacle and dark psychological drama in the world, and it will do nothing but leave audiences mildly depressed and angst-ridden. Frankly, we all deserve better than that.
Montreal Gazette
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
Directing next James Bond movie a monumental coup for Denis Villeneuve
Denis Villeneuve strikes again. The Quebec director, whose monumental ambition is matched only by his monumental achievements, raised the bar another notch Wednesday when it was announced he will oversee the next James Bond film. It's a monumental coup for a visionary filmmaker who has been on a steadily soaring ascent through Hollywood's upper ranks. Directing the adventures of 007 could cement Villeneuve's status as an auteur with mainstream appeal. How did he get here, and what might the most storied spy of Her Majesty's Secret Service look like under his leadership? Villeneuve is no stranger to revamping venerated narratives with a hallowed place in the cultural imagination. Nor to making his big dreams into blockbuster reality. In 2017, he took on a sci-fi classic with Blade Runner 2049, his bold sequel to Ridley Scott's beloved 1982 neo-noir film starring a young Harrison Ford. Though it stalled at the box office, Villeneuve's film was an artistic tour-de-force, steeped in breathtaking imagery, oppressive tension and the kind of fearless conviction that big budgets can't buy. In other words, the movie contained the same artistic integrity and epic leanings that have characterized the director since his 2010 breakthrough Incendies, which earned him his first Oscar nomination for best foreign language film. He followed Incendies with the stark and star-studded police thriller Prisoners, in 2013, and the suspenseful FBI drug-war saga Sicario, in 2015, both of which showed his ability to build and hold a level of dramatic tension that keeps audiences glued to the edge of their seat. In between came the art-house head-trip Enemy, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, in 2014; and then one of his most interesting films, the poetic extraterrestrial encounter Arrival, starring Amy Adams, which earned Villeneuve 2017 Oscar nominations for best picture and best director while dipping his toes in science fiction. That set the stage not only for Blade Runner 2049 but also Dune: Part One and Part Two, the darkly epic diptych adaptation of Frank Herbert's supposedly unadaptable sci-fi saga (with a third, Dune: Messiah, on the way). The Dune films confirmed Villeneuve as a Hollywood heavyweight able to combine cinematic audacity with bankable (read: cash register-ringing) entertainment value. Those attributes got him selected by Amazon MGM Studios — which acquired creative control of the James Bond intellectual property rights in March from longtime producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli — to breathe new life into the most storied spy in the history of cinema. Villeneuve and his life partner and collaborator Tanya Lapointe will serve as executive producers on the film, alongside producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, which is all the proof you need that the director will be actively involved in rethinking his world-renowned protagonist. The filmmaker, who says he 'grew up watching James Bond films with my father,' describes himself as 'a die-hard Bond fan,' adding: 'To me, he's sacred territory. I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.' That would make this the third straight time – after Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune films – that Villeneuve has taken on a movie project he grew up revering. The filmmaker was a co-writer on Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, as he had been on Incendies. If he co-writes the next Bond film, it would give him expanded artistic licence to go with his hero's license to kill. Villeneuve has a flawlessly consistent track record as a filmmaker who brings gravitas, suspense and cinematic flair to everything he directs. That bodes well for Bond, an old-world protagonist whose appeal is ever in danger of feeling dated, and is overdue for another makeover. It's a perilous assignment, but one for which Villeneuve's range of skills seems particularly well suited. The pitfalls are manifold but if he succeeds, the film world is his oyster.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Denis Villeneuve to helm next James Bond film for Amazon MGM Studios
Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, praised the director's appointment: "We are honoured that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond's next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself. From Blade Runner 2049 to Arrival to the Dune films, he has delivered compelling worlds, dynamic visuals, complex characters, and—most importantly—the immersive storytelling that global audiences yearn to experience in theatres. James Bond is in the hands of one of today's greatest filmmakers, and we cannot wait to get started on 007's next adventure." This will be the first Bond film since No Time to Die(2021), which concluded Daniel Craig's run as the iconic British spy. While no casting or release details have been revealed, with Villeneuve's appointment, the franchise appears poised for a bold and cinematic reinvention.
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Denis Villeneuve Has Wanted to Direct a James Bond Movie for Years — GeekTyrant
It was recently reported that Denis Villeneuve will officially be stepping into the world of James Bond and direct the next movie. The filmmaker has been chasing this iconic franchise for over a decade. For fans of his meticulous, visually-driven style in Dune , Blade Runner 2049 , and Sicario , this next chapter makes perfect sense. Villeneuve has long dreamed of directing a Bond film, and now, with the torch passed from longtime franchise shepherd Barbara Broccoli to Amazon MGM Studios, he's finally getting his chance. Villeneuve has never been subtle about his Bond ambitions. All the way back in 2015, while promoting Sicario , he told ComingSoon: '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.' In 2017, he revealed he'd already had talks with the Bond camp, but things didn't line up due to his commitment to Dune . He told ThePlaylist: 'I had some contact and the thing is that I'm busy right now.' Even in 2021, as Dune was dominating conversation, he was still vocal about wanting his shot behind the wheel of the Aston Martin. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he said: 'I would deeply love to one day make a James Bond movie. It's a character that I've been with — like everybody — since my childhood. I have massive affection for Bond. It would be a big challenge for people to try and reboot it.' 'It's true that it would be a dream to do 007. I don't know if such a thing would happen, but it would be a privilege. At the end of the day, that would be pure cinematic joy.' Now that dream is real. Villeneuve will helm the next Bond film, though he won't be working with Daniel Craig, who he once called the 'ultimate James Bond.' Casting is still up in the air, though rumors have swirled around Dune 's Timothée Chalamet, especially following Amazon's announcement. Despite being locked into production on Dune: Messiah , which is set to release December 2026, Villeneuve still found a way to make space for 007. And he's treating it like sacred ground. '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 massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor.' Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman echoed that passion, saying: 'Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it's ours, too. We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker.' Given his eye for scale, atmosphere, and emotional gravitas, Villeneuve might just be the fresh perspective Bond needs.
