Latest news with #Bond26
Express Tribune
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Denis Villeneuve to direct bond 26 with jacob elordi, tom holland, and harris dickinson eyed for 007
Denis Villeneuve is set to direct the next James Bond movie, with Amazon eyeing a 2028 release for Bond 26, according to sources. Villeneuve was selected over several notable directors, including Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Paul King, and Jonathan Nolan. With the film's large scale, insiders suggest a 2028 timeline is the most feasible, as a faster production would be challenging. Amazon's next step involves securing a writer and an actor for the coveted role of Agent 007. The studio and producers are reportedly focusing on a British actor under 30, with Jacob Elordi ("Saltburn"), Tom Holland ("Spider-Man"), and Harris Dickinson ("Babygirl") among the top contenders. Though Elordi is Australian, Amazon is not concerned, as seen with George Lazenby, who was Australian and played Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. While Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Henry Cavill have been mentioned as possible options, their ages—35 and 42—make them less likely to fit the studio's preference. Director Alfonso Cuarón was initially considered for the role but withdrew to focus on other projects, including Jane, a film starring Charlize Theron. Christopher Nolan, a potential contender as director, was also of interest to Amazon, but his schedule is occupied with The Odyssey, a project starring Holland. Villeneuve, best known for Dune, is currently planning to film Dune: Messiah later this year, with a 2026 release date in mind. His deal for the Bond film is a one-off, meaning he is not contracted for sequels and does not have final cut privileges, a decision that deviates from previous Bond films where the Broccoli family held tight creative control. Villeneuve's appointment marks a significant shift in the franchise's creative direction as Amazon takes over from MGM.
Geek Tyrant
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
What's Next for Denis Villeneuve's BOND Movie? Amazon Eyes a Younger 007 with Elordi, Holland, and Dickinson in the Mix — GeekTyrant
James Bond is officially entering a new era, and it's shaping up to be a bold departure from the familiar. With Denis Villeneuve now confirmed to direct the 26th Bond film, Amazon is moving quickly, at least by Bond standards, to build the next phase of the iconic franchise. That said, don't expect to see 007 back on the big screen until 2028. According to sources close to production, anything sooner would be unrealistic given the scope of the film and Villeneuve's packed schedule. Villeneuve beat out some heavy hitters for the director's chair. Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Paul King, and Jonathan Nolan were all reportedly in the mix. The director of Dune and Blade Runner 2049 has long expressed his desire to helm a Bond film, and Amazon finally gave him thegreen light. The studio is now focused on attaching a screenwriter and, of course, casting the new face of Bond. That face is going to be younger. Amazon and producers are reportedly seeking a British actor under 30, and the current shortlist includes Saltburn 's Jacob Elordi, Spider-Man 's Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson from Babygirl . While Elordi is Australian, insiders say that's not a dealbreaker, after all, George Lazenby was too, and he once wore the tux in On Her Majesty's Secret Service . Long-rumored contenders like Aaron Taylor-Johnson (35), Henry Cavill (42), and Idris Elba (52) are seen as too old for what Amazon is aiming to build. Alfonso Cuarón was an early contender to direct, and was pushed strongly by producer David Heyman due to their collaboration on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban . But Cuarón ultimately stepped away to prioritize other projects, including Jane , a Charlize Theron-led film also at Amazon. Amazon also made a serious attempt to land Christopher Nolan, even to the point of considering breaking one of the franchise's long-standing rules, denying directors final cut. That rule, enforced for decades by Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, was one of the ways EON Productions maintained creative control. But the Broccoli family has now stepped back from day-to-day creative oversight and retains only a financial stake. Nolan, however, is unavailable for the foreseeable future as he's deep in pre-production on The Odyssey . As for Villeneuve, his Bond deal is a one-and-done. He's not signed on for any sequels and won't have final cut. Before he even starts rolling cameras on Bond, he's committed to filming Dune: Messiah , which is aiming for a December 2026 release. Amazon's next move is to lock in a writer, and while Jonathan Nolan was floated as a strong candidate, his Bond pitch was reportedly well-received, he's tied up with the series Fallout and unavailable. Still, there's no shortage of writing talent circling the property, and Amazon is determined to define a fresh identity for their version of Bond. Bond 26 may still be a few years away, but the new direction will involve a younger 007, a more cinematic director, and the first major reboot under a new studio. Source: Variety
Newsweek
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Christopher Nolan Came Close to Directing James Bond
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Now that we know Denis Villeneuve of "Dune" fame will be directing the next "James Bond" film, Variety reports that "Oppenheimer" director Christopher Nolan came closer than we thought to helming a film in the franchise. Read More: 'Lilo & Stitch 2' Already On the Way from Disney Variety says initially Amazon was "very interested" in recruiting Nolan to helm the long-awaited follow-up to "No Time to Die", even if that meant giving Nolan the final cut (something "James Bond" directors have historically been denied). Christopher Nolan attends the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards held at The Beverly Hilton on February 8, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. Christopher Nolan attends the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards held at The Beverly Hilton on February 8, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. JB Lacroix/FilmMagic As recounted by RadioTimes back in March, this isn't Christopher Nolan's first near-miss with the "Bond" franchise. The filmmaker pitched a "Bond" film after making "Tenet". His vision took the story back to the 1960s and would've been the first of a two-parter. Things reportedly broke down between Nolan and Barbara Broccoli when the latter wouldn't compromise on giving Nolan the final cut. Right now, Nolan is busy making "The Odyssey", which stars Tom Holland who is apparently on the shortlist to become the next James Bond. Variety reports the "Spider-Man" star is joined on that list by Jacob Elordi ("Saltburn") and Harris Dickinson ("Babygirl"). While Christopher Nolan ultimately won't be directing the next "Bond" film, his brother Jonathan Nolan was reportedly one of the directors beat out of the final running by Villeneuve. Variety reports the other directors up for the job were Edward Berger ("Conclave"), Edgar Wright ("Baby Driver"), and Paul King ("Wonka"). It's worth mentioning that while Villeneuve is locked in for "Bond 26", there's no telling who might follow for "Bond 27" and beyond. Villeneuve doesn't have final cut and he's only signed on for a single film. Variety recounts that the last time a director helmed two "Bond" films in a row was Sam Mandes who directed both 2012's "Skyfall" and 2015's "Spectre." Alfonso Cuarón ("Gravity") is another filmmaker who was, for a time, a favorite to helm the next "Bond" film, but he took himself out of the running by focusing on other projects, including "Jane" which will star Charlize Theron. There's no word yet on who will write "Bond 26". Some early speculation tapped Jonathan Nolan for the job, but Variety reports that he isn't available to write. More Movies: 'F1' Director Teases 'Top Gun 3' Arnold Schwarzenegger Chooses the Worst 'Terminator' Movie
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Denis Villeneuve threatens to overshadow the new James Bond
The Amazon/MGM era of James Bond has taken a significant step towards getting the next iteration of Ian Fleming's famous secret agent to the big screen. They've announced Denis Villeneuve as the director of Bond 26. Villeneuve is a name that many film fans will know and love, with the French-Canadian filmmaker being behind the recent – and very successful – Dune adaptations, as well as some of the most well-regarded movies of the 21st century, from Blade Runner 2049 to Arrival (for which he received an Oscar nomination for Best Director). His appointment should be cause for celebration; he's one of the most distinct directors of recent memory, offering movies filled with striking visual grandeur, nerve-shredding tension, as well as a flair for directing subtle and stirring performances from his casts. He is unquestionably an excellent filmmaker, so why am I left with a sense of doubt over his selection to be the next Bond director? Put simply, I think the stature and appeal of Villeneuve as an auteur filmmaker threatens to overshadow what will be the introduction of a brand new actor as James Bond. First things first: I love Denis. Making a difficult text like Dune into a mainstream cinematic success was a miraculous feat, and I've been a keen follower of his work since Prisoners caught my eye with its hypnotically dark atmosphere. I am also a James Bond fan. It was the first franchise I can remember falling in love with, and I have always enjoyed coming back to it for several reasons. There's the action, the cars and the gadgets, the corny one-liners, but it is also a fascinating time capsule. Being over 60 years old allows the series to act as a reflection of the moods and preferences of movie-going audiences across generations. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video It is also a franchise that has, from quite early on, always been open to reinvention, and a lot of that comes from the casting of a new actor as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007. When it comes to a new Bond, the build-up to the reveal has always been a hot topic of conversation, just as it is right now. And the reveal itself is even more contentious. Daniel Craig, who is now regarded by many to be the best Bond behind Sean Connery, became the centre of a 'Craig Not Bond' campaign that complained Craig was too blonde when he was announced in 2005. Craig went on to make the role his own with Casino Royale, which was directed by Martin Campbell, who had also been at the helm for the debut of Pierce Brosnan's Bond in 1995's GoldenEye. Timothy Dalton's first Bond – The Living Daylights – was directed by the steady hand of John Glen, who had directed the three previous entries in the franchise. Roger Moore's introduction – Live and Let Die – was likewise directed by a franchise veteran Guy Hamilton. These are all directors who had proven chops either in the genre or within the franchise – journeyman directors if you will – and paved the way to let the personality of the actor selected to enter the gun barrel. Craig would go on to work with more prestige filmmakers in his run as Bond as he became more hands-on with the direction of the series (like Oscar winner Sam Mendes and Emmy-winner Cary Joji Fukunaga) but only once his take on the character was firmly established. There is something to be said about handing the keys to someone less distinguished and focus instead on a steady pair of hands who can deliver action and let the Bond brand do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to marketing. Someone like Mission: Impossible's set-piece specialist Christopher McQuarrie or The Hunger Games' stylish Francis Lawrence – or dare I say even a return to Martin Campbell – would certainly cast less of a shadow for the new actor and be no less capable of providing the necessary Bond flair. There'd certainly be less baggage and expectation. I fear that the narrative now could become less about what an actor could bring to the role of James Bond, but more about what that actor can bring to Denis Villeneuve's James Bond. The casting of Bond for this new era still has a chance to provide something fresh and exciting, and I can't wait to see who Villeneuve picks to lead his film. But already, there's speculation as odds are slashed for his Dune star, Timothée Chalamet. While I feel that is unlikely, it's clear people think Villeneuve could shake things up. Yet, I can't help but feel both the casting and the film itself won't be that dissimilar to what we've seen before. Villeneuve's aesthetic (grounded, precise, atmospheric) isn't miles away from what Mendes or Fukunaga brought to the table (Villeneuve has even worked with Mendes' regular director of photography, Roger Deakins, multiple times before, too). Those hoping for a Bond that airs more back towards a campy tongue-in-cheek tone after the harder-edged Craig era will most likely not be getting that with Villeneuve. I'm also a little disappointed that Villeneuve isn't escaping franchise filmmaking for his post-Dune project. More Trending Bond 26 will follow after his third Dune movie – Messiah, set for release next year – with his previous credit before Dune having been the legacy sequel Blade Runner 2049. While it has been largely exciting to see him play in these worlds, it's a shame that one of the most visually striking filmmakers of the past 25 years isn't providing much in the way of original storytelling. All this being said, I will undoubtedly be there on opening weekend to see what Villeneuve has cooked up for this new era of one of my favourite film franchises. But it would seem that the time when a Bond era would be more defined by the casting than any other factor could be at its end. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Beware the Glastonbury Hipster – they'll ruin the festival for you MORE: If Britain went to war I wouldn't hesitate to enlist MORE: Donald Trump's latest stunt risks dragging the UK into war
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Dune director Denis Villeneuve is the best thing to happen to James Bond in a long time
Who's going to be the new James Bond? After five and a half years of fevered speculation, we finally have something approaching an answer: pretty much anyone Denis Villeneuve likes. Earlier this morning, the blockbuster auteur behind the Dune films and Arrival was announced as the director of the 26th Bond film, which remains – for now – untitled and un-cast. These two further puzzle pieces will doubtless slot into place soon enough, though Villeneuve's appointment offers a tantalising glimpse of what the future direction of 007 under his new owners at Amazon might be, as well as granting the tech giant's handling of the franchise a much-needed PR boost. After Amazon's acquisition of Bond has cost them the crazy total of $9.5 billion, and a creative falling out with Barbara Broccoli's Eon Productions - the keepers of the Bond flame since the Sean Connery years - the stakes have never felt higher for appointing the right director for the franchise. But securing Villeneuve quiets complaints from every direction imaginable – this is a director whose work has screened at Venice and Cannes, is a four-time Oscar and five-time Bafta nominee, and has taken almost $2 billion at the global box office. (His two Dune films alone grossed just over $1.1 billion, despite the first being semi-nobbled by Covid.) It's also a move that Broccoli herself could have never taken issue with, since she herself tried to do the same around 10 years ago, during the search for a director for No Time to Die, the last instalment in the Daniel Craig run. Back then, Villeneuve recused himself as he was busy with the first instalment of Dune – and indeed he's currently consumed with part three, Dune: Messiah, which is expected to shoot later this summer then land in cinemas by the end of next year. (This means that even with a Ridley Scott-like work ethic, we won't be seeing Villeneuve's Bond until the summer of 2027 at the earliest.) Yet Broccoli's smartest directorial hirings were always journeymen rather than visionaries – think Martin Campbell of GoldenEye and Casino Royale, and Sam Mendes of Skyfall and Spectre. These were filmmakers who would bend to Bond's will, rather than vice versa. Villeneuve is known to be quite a different kettle of fish, and known to be bloody-minded when tangling with executives on stylistic matters. The first major scenes he shot for Dune: Part Two were nightmarish monochrome infrared sequences, which led to frantic calls from studio heads who wanted to 'put the colours back in' in the edit. (Because Villeneuve had shot them on infrared cameras, this was impossible.)
