Latest news with #DenisVilleneuve
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi and Harris Dickinson at top of James Bond wishlist
Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson and Jacob Elordi are rumoured to be at the top of Amazon's James Bond wishlist, according to a new report. Variety has learned from insiders that the new iteration of 007 would be under 30 and the three actors could be fighting it out for the role. No meetings have taken place and Amazon has yet to confirm anything. The report emerges days after the Dune and Arrival director Denis Villeneuve was announced as the first director of Bond's new era under the Amazon-MGM banner. The French-Canadian film-maker, now working on the third Dune movie, reportedly beat out Conclave's Edward Berger, Westworld's Jonathan Nolan, Paddington's Paul King and Shaun of the Dead's Edgar Wright for the role. 'I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come,' Villeneuve said in a statement. 'This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honour.' Early rumours had suggested the Gravity director Alfonso Cuarón would step up, having worked with Bond's new producer David Heyman before, but he removed himself from the race. Cuarón is set to work on the darkly funny drama Jane with Charlize Theron instead. Holland, best known for playing Spider-Man, has also starred in the video game hit Uncharted and Apple series The Crowded Room. He'll next be seen in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey before returning for the fourth Spider-Man movie. The 29-year-old actor once tried to pitch a 007 spin-off to Sony. 'I had a meeting after or during Spider-Man 2 with Sony to pitch this idea of a young Bond film that I'd come up with,' he said in 2022. 'It was the origin story of James Bond. It didn't really make sense. It didn't work. It was the dream of a young kid, and I don't think the Bond estate were particularly interested.' Dickinson, known for Triangle of Sadness and Babygirl, recently received rave reviews for his directorial debut Urchin at the Cannes film festival. 'I mean, listen, man, you'd be a fool to not entertain that role,' he said when asked about playing Bond in 2023. 'I'm loving seeing the development of James Bond and seeing how it changes over the years. I think Daniel Craig was such a good Bond that I'd almost be quite frightened to try … Who knows what they're doing with Bond? I'm intrigued.' Elordi is the only Australian of the bunch, but could follow in the footsteps of George Lazenby who played Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The actor, best known for his role in TV drama Euphoria and Sofia Coppola's Priscilla, will soon be seen in Emerald Fennell's unconventional adaptation of Wuthering Heights with Margot Robbie. In 2023, Elordi called rumours that he was being linked to the role 'beautiful' and added: 'I just like that people maybe want to put me in their movies. That makes me really glad.' The release date for the next film is yet to be announced, but Variety is claiming that anything sooner than 2028 would be impossible. The 26th Bond film will follow Daniel Craig's final outing No Time to Die which made over $774m at the global box office. Earlier this year, in a reported $1bn deal, Amazon MGM bought the rights to gain 'creative control' of the franchise. In March, producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman were hired to take charge of the new film.
Geek Tyrant
11 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
Gizmodo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Amazon Wants Denis Villeneuve's ‘Bond' Movie as Soon as Possible
Now that we know a Denis Villeneuve-helmed Bond reboot is officially coming, there's a very obvious next question: who's gonna step into the role of 007? A new report from Variety suggests some of the top contenders, and the selection of actors in the running is fascinatingly mixed, at least in the sense that the character is traditionally played by a Brit. Australian-born Jacob Elordi, star of Guillermo del Toro's upcoming Frankenstein for Netflix, is a strong pick and stands apart from the rest of the competition with recent moody turns in roles such as Elvis in Priscilla and an ill-fated rich kid in Saltburn. Then there's Tom Holland, the Spider-Man star whose name has been floating around for a while for the role and whose upcoming roles include being part of Christopher Nolan's Odyssey epic. And finally, Harris Dickinson, whose credits include Babygirl, The Iron Claw, and The King's Man: Gentlemen—the latter of which is a no-brainer of a transition. We'll see who Villeneuve goes with in the weeks to come. According to the Variety report, the pressure to make a choice is being fast-tracked. Amazon was described as 'looking at a 2028 release date for Bond 26' and with Villeneuve going into Dune: Messiah for a 2026 release, it's likely he'll be jumping straight into Bond as soon as that wraps. Amazon has yet to announce a writer, so that's also in the process of getting locked down. Stay tuned here at io9 for more breaking Bond news. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sony to Release Select Amazon MGM Movies Overseas, Beginning With Luca Guadagnino's ‘After the Hunt'
Amazon MGM Studios has tapped Sony to release a handful of its upcoming high-profile movies at the international box office as it goes about building its own foreign operation. Under the pact, Sony will handle overseas duties for After the Hunt, Mercy, Crime 101 and Project Hail Mary, according to a statement released by the two studios. More from The Hollywood Reporter Denis Villeneuve to Direct Next James Bond Film The First James Bond of the Amazon Era Is Young, Reckless, and a Playable Character Mindy Kaling-Produced 'Hana Khan Carries On' Movie Lands 'Deli Boys' Director Fawzia Mirza (Exclusive) Following those releases, Amazon MGM will directly distribute theatrical titles in territories overseas where it launches its own offices, with Sony supporting the studio in other international markets. This doesn't include the next James Bond movie, which will be handled overseas by Universal. Director Luca Guadagnino's psychological thriller After the Hunt, which opens in select theaters on Oct. 10 before expanding on Oct. 17, stars Julia Roberts as a woman who must confront her own past when a prominent student (Ayo Edebiri) levels accusations against one of her colleagues (Andrew Garfield). After the Hunt reunites Guadagnino with Amazon MGM, which released his Zendaya-led film Challengers. Timur Bekmambetov's sci-fi thriller Mercy, starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, is set to open Jan. 23 after it was originally set for a late summer 2025 release. The pic stars Pratt as a detective in the near future who finds himself accused of a violent crime and having to prove his innocence in a society where capital crime is on the rise. Annabelle Wallis, Kali Reis, Chris Sullivan, Kylie Rogers, Jeff Pierre, Rafi Gavron, Jamie McBride, and Kenneth Choi co-star. Heist pic Crime 101, starring Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry, is set to open Feb. 13, the beginning of the lucrative Valentine's Day and Presidents Day weekend period. Directed by Bart Layton and based on a Don Winslow novella, the pic also stars Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Nick Nolte, as well as Halle Berry. Project Hail Mary will open a month later on March 20. The high-profile pic from directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller stars Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller. Based on Andy Weir's novel of the same name, Drew Goddard's screenplay follows a science teacher (Gosling) who wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. Just days ago, Amazon MGM made headlines around the globe when announcing that Dune director Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to direct the next 007 film. Amazon MGM acquired the rights earlier this year in a landmark deal. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
CTV News
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Here are 007 Canadian ties to James Bond as Quebec auteur Denis Villeneuve takes helm
TORONTO — News that Quebec auteur Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie adds yet another Canadian tie to the blockbuster franchise about a British secret service hero. The 'Dune' visionary is set to take over the next iteration of 007 for Amazon MGM Studios with fellow Canadian and partner Tanya Lapointe serving as executive producer. The film franchise sprang from a collection of post-Second World War spy novels by British writer and former naval officer Ian Fleming, who centred his adventures on a suave English operative with an affinity for martinis and a deadly faculty in eliminating threats. But look closely and you'll find several Canadian touches in the books and films. Here's a look at 007 of them. 001 Intrepid Bond is said to be at least partly inspired by Canadian spy and war hero Sir William Stephenson, whose clandestine activities admittedly make it hard to establish definitive ties. But the Winnipeg-born Stephenson, who died in 1989, was a close friend of Fleming's after the two met at a spy school the Canadian founded in Whitby, Ont., called Camp X. Stephenson was code-named Intrepid during his mission days and his accomplishments rivalled that of any big-screen hero: lightweight boxing champion, First World War flying ace, millionaire inventor and entrepreneur, adviser to former U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt, confidante to former British prime minister Winston Churchill and chief of an elaborate British spy operation in New York. Fleming has said he drew inspiration from multiple people he met throughout his wartime naval career. But, according to Dwight Hamilton's book, 'Inside Canadian Intelligence,' Fleming described Bond as 'highly romanticized' while 'the real thing, the man who became one of the great agents of the (Second World War), is William Stephenson.' 002 The films The origins of the franchise can be traced back to Canadian theatre and film producer Harry Saltzman, who co-produced the movies until he sold his share to United Artists in 1975. Saltzman was born in Sherbrooke, Que., in 1915, and entered the film business in the 1940s, according to a New York Times obituary. He co-founded Eon Productions in Britain 1961 with Albert R. (Cubby) Broccoli, with whom he had bought the film rights to Fleming's novels. Lore has it that Saltzman and Broccoli cast Sean Connery as the star of their first film, 1962's 'Dr. No,' without a screen test, citing his 'dark, cruel good looks' as a perfect match for Fleming's description of the hero. Saltzman died in a Paris suburb in 1994 at age 78. 003 The villain The first Bond villain to grace the screen was played by Montreal-born Joseph Wiseman, whose turn as the eponymous evil genius in 'Dr. No' helped set the stage for future outlandish malefactors. Wiseman played the even-keeled Chinese-German scientist Julius No as a cool-tempered maniac in a Nehru jacket with shiny black prosthetic hands — his real hands explained away as the 'cost' paid for failed radioactive experiments. Born in 1918, Wiseman made a splash on Broadway in Sidney Kingsley's 1949 play 'Detective Story,' launching a film career marked by offbeat characters, according to a 2009 obituary in the Guardian. His film career included 1951's 'Detective Story' with Kirk Douglas, 1952's 'Viva Zapata!' with Marlon Brando, and the 1974 Canadian film 'The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz,' opposite Richard Dreyfuss. TV roles included Manny Weisbord in the '80s series 'Crime Story.' 004 Moneypenny Among the most constant characters to span the films is Miss Moneypenny, a relatively minor one afforded little development until recent films but nevertheless beloved by fans. Canadian actress Lois Maxwell was the first to portray the character of the secretary to the head of the British Secret Service and Bond's boss, M. Maxwell was born Lois Ruth Hooker in Kitchener, Ont., in 1927 and, according to a CBC obituary, left home at age 15 to join the army. She moved to Hollywood at 20, scoring a series of roles including 'That Hagen Girl' with Shirley Temple and Ronald Reagan. But it was the Bond role that made her famous. She appeared in 14 features between 1962 and 1985, including 1964's 'Goldfinger' and 1983's 'Octopussy,' according to IMDB and the James Bond Wiki. Maxwell also starred in the CBC-TV series 'Adventures in Rainbow Country' and in the 1980s, wrote a column in the Toronto Sun under the byline Miss Moneypenny. 005 The song There's some intrigue behind how k.d. lang's song, 'Surrender,' came to close the 1997 film 'Tomorrow Never Dies,' in which Pierce Brosnan stars as the dapper operative. The 'Constant Craving' singer applied her velvety vocals to a well-received anthem co-written by Bond score composer David Arnold with David McAlmont and Don Black. It was initially meant to be the main theme, but was famously passed over for Sheryl Crow's eponymous title song at the last minute. In a look-back for the 25th anniversary of the movie in 2022, lang told Yahoo that the sudden change 'was super disappointing to me because I thought I was doing the opening song.' 006 The books Fleming's 1962 novel 'The Spy Who Loved Me' is narrated by a French-Canadian woman named Viv Michel, who recounts her story in a stylistic departure from previous books and was largely panned by critics. Bond doesn't even appear until more than halfway through the story, and Fleming reportedly disavowed it after publication as an experiment that had 'obviously gone very much awry.' When he sold the film rights to Saltzman and Broccoli, they were allowed to use the title but nothing else, according to Eon Productions' Bond website Production on the resulting 1977 film 'The Spy Who Loved Me' — starring Roger Moore as Bond — coincided with Saltzman selling his share of Eon and the film became the first to list Broccoli as sole producer. 007 The getaway 'The Spy Who Loved Me' features a dramatic ski chase in which Bond is being pursued by KGB agents when he comes upon a cliff face, and leaps off the mountain, escaping near-death with the help of a parachute. The sequence was partly shot on Baffin Island, where harsh weather conditions forced the crew to wait 10 days to attempt a jump off Mount Asgard in Auyuittuq National Park, according to When the clouds finally parted, the team had just 15 minutes to capture the stunt. 'We were in this very desolate part of the world, inside the Arctic Circle with an Inuit village about 30 miles away,' said John Glen, second-unit director. 'Each day, we had to travel by helicopter to set up the climbing pylons so the crew could get up there with the cameras. The weather was atrocious.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025. Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press
