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CTV News
2 days 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
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The Denis Villeneuve movies you need to watch – as he is confirmed for the next Bond film
Amazon MGM Studios has just announced that Oscar-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond film in an incredibly exciting move for the spy franchise. Accompanying Villeneuve will be his artistic partner and wife, Tanya Lapointe, as executive producer, as well as David Heyman and Amy Pascal as producers. 'Some of my earliest moviegoing 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,' Villeneuve said in a statement on Wednesday (25 June). 'I intend to honour 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 honour.' 'We are honoured that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond's next chapter. He is a cinematic master whose filmography speaks for itself,' Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, said of Villeneuve. It's fair to say that we can expect big things in the franchise's next instalment. While we're rather excited that this big name in the business will be the creative mind behind what is one of the decade's most anticipated films, we can't ignore his already impressive, existing catalogue. Villeneuve is a four-time Academy Award nominee, known for his ability to combine blockbuster visuals with complex character storylines. If, in the lead up to the release of what is currently known as 'Bond 26', you're looking to get a taste of Villeneuve's impeccable style, or refresh your memory on his skill, there are a number of his films we'd recommend you watch. Dune It's often been said that Frank Herbert's 1965 novel Dune is unadaptable to the big screen, but Villeneuve pulled it off. Somehow turning high-concept 1960s sci-fi psychedelia into an approachable action blockbuster, the 2021 Dune film follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). Paul, the son of the noble house Atreides, is pulled from his comfortable homeworld into a web of political intrigue on the desert planet Arrakis. Drawn into a complicated war over the psychotropic drug 'spice', Paul finds himself in the middle of dangerous machinations between his mother's magical, all-women cult, the terrifying feudal Harkonnens, and Arrakis' insurgent native population. Sounds like a lot, but Villeneuve manages to juggle all of this with some astonishing action set pieces. Dune: Part Two Spoilers ahead. Dune: Part Two was released in 2024, and once again follows Paul Atreides' journey. As he unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen of Arrakis in a war against House Harkonnen, Paul has difficult choices to make between the love of his life, and the fate of the known universe. The mind-bending second act of Villeneuve's Dune trilogy, this film has some truly astonishing set pieces – once seen, the black and white infrared gladiator fight on Giedi Prime is never forgotten. Blade Runner 2049 Blade Runner 2049 is a 2017 neo-noir sci-fi sequel to Blade Runner (1982). The film is set in Los Angeles in the year 2049, where replicants are still being used for slave labour. Working for the Los Angeles Police Department as a blade runner, K (Ryan Gosling) has the job of hunting down and retiring outdated Nexus-8 android replicants. After evidence emerges that replicants can reproduce, K is sent on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has been missing for 30 years, with the help of his AI girlfriend Joi (Ana de Armas) and Freysa (Hiam Abbass). Visually stunning, the film somehow matches the neon heights of the original. Sicario Sicario is the most Bond-like of all Villeneuve's films. FBI special agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) is drawn into the war on drugs at the border between the US and Mexico. This stunningly violent film follows Kate into a complicated plot unravelling the interplay between Mexican drug cartels and complicit US government agencies. Like Dune, this film is packed with intricate, hair-raising action set pieces that should translate perfectly into Bond. Arrival This beautiful film is a first-contact film like you've never seen before. After twelve mysterious spacecraft appear over the Earth, linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams) is tasked with deciphering an extraterrestrial language along with physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner). A slower, quieter film than Villeneuve's other blockbusters, the film focuses on the nature of language and memory as it follows Louise's painstaking work to decipher an alien language she cannot even hear. The award-winning soundtrack is truly spine-tingling, and the payoff to the shocking twist at the end of the film is another unforgettable Villeneuve moment.
The Verge
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Denis Villeneuve is directing the next Bond film for Amazon
First, Amazon MGM secured creative control of the James Bond IP, then it brought Amy Pascal and David Heyman in to produce a new feature about the iconic spy. Now, the studio has found a director to lead the project. Last night, Amazon MGM announced that Denis Villeneuve has been tapped to direct a new Bond film — the studio's first since it obtained the property as part of its MGM acquisition back in 2021 for $8.45 billion. The new Bond project does not yet have a name, casting details, or a production timeline, but Amazon MGM also shared that Tanya Lapointe is attached to produce. In a press release about his involvement in the new movie, Villeneuve said that as a longtime fan who grew up watching the Bond series, he sees the character as 'sacred territory.' 'Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007,' Villeneuve said. '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.' Amazon MGM and Prime Video head Mike Hopkins echoed Villeneuve's enthusiasm and said that it was an honor to be able to collaborate with him. Hopkins also seemed to indicate that the studio intends for the new project to receive a theatrical release. 'From Blade Runner 2049 to Arrival to the Dune films, [Villeneuve] has delivered compelling worlds, dynamic visuals, complex characters, and—most importantly—the immersive storytelling that global audiences yearn to experience in theaters,' Hopkins said. '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.' It's likely going to be a while until we see any of the new Bond given how busy Villeneuve currently is with his work on a third Dune feature for Legendary and Warner Bros. Discovery, which is slated to hit theaters next year. As Deadline notes, Villeneuve has also reportedly been in talks to work on Universal's upcoming Cleopatra project, Alcon Entertainment's adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama, and Legendary's adaptation of Annie Jacobsen's Nuclear War: A Scenario. Bringing Villeneuve on for Bond seems like a solid move on Amazon's part considering how much money the studio spent to buy MGM and then, as part of a separate deal, to convince longtime Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to give up creative control of the IP. Villeneuve's a known hit maker, and he might be able to help Amazon recoup a substantial chunk of its investment. But the new film's success is undoubtedly going to hinge on its story and whoever ends up becoming the latest 007.
CNN
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Denis Villeneuve to direct next James Bond movie
Denis Villeneuve, whose films have won several Oscars, will direct the next movie in the James Bond franchise, Amazon MGM Studios has announced. Villeneuve, a French-Canadian filmmaker best known for his work on 'Blade Runner 2049,' 'Arrival' and the 'Dune' movies, will work with executive producer Tanya Lapointe and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman. '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,' said Villeneuve in a statement released by Amazon MGM Studios Wednesday. '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,' he added. Villeneuve's most recent film, 'Dune: Part Two,' was widely acclaimed when it was released last year and he now has an opportunity to bring those talents to a storied franchise. 'We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond's next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself,' said Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, in the statement. '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,' he added. Amazon MGM Studios took over the Bond franchise in February. Under the deal, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli – the duo who brought the 007 films to theaters for more than 60 years – remain co-owners, having formed a new joint venture with Amazon MGM that handed over the creative reins and control of all future production to the Jeff Bezos-founded company. Amazon bought MGM in 2022 for $8.25 billion, acquiring the Hollywood studio's catalog of 4,000 movies and 17,000-plus TV shows. As part of the deal, Amazon gained possession of the rights to distribute all 27 of the movies based on Ian Fleming's books. MGM's Bond films are the studio's most lucrative intellectual property, having brought in billions since first releasing 'Dr. No' in 1962. The latest installment of the spy franchise, 'No Time to Die,' raked in more than $770 million at the global box office, making it the fourth-highest grossing film of 2021. Villeneuve and Amazon MGM Studios will now have to choose a new actor for the titular role, as Daniel Craig announced that 'No Time to Die' would be his last Bond movie. CNN's Liam Reilly contributed to this report.
Geek Culture
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Dune's Denis Villeneuve To Direct Amazon's 'James Bond' Movie
The future of the James Bond franchise is being shaken (up) and stirred with a creative takeover by Amazon MGM Studios, and things are off to a strong, albeit surprising, start. Denis Villeneuve , best known for the Dune movies starring Timothée Chalamet, has been tapped to direct and executive produce the next James Bond instalment. Joining the Canadian filmmaker as executive producer is Tanya Lapointe, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman serving as producers, as previously announced. Villeneuve was among the list of high-profile directors eyed to steer the project, alongside Edward Berger, Edgar Wright, Jonathan Nolan, and Paul King. Alfonso Cuarón ( Roma ) was also a popular choice, considering his frequent collaborations with Heyman. '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,' Villeneuve said. 'I intend to honour 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 honour. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.' The forthcoming feature will mark the first time since the 1960s that someone outside of the Broccoli family, longtime owners of the IP, has taken creative control of the iconic spy series. The former remain as co-owners, following Daniel Craig's last bow as 007 in 2021's No Time To Die . The search for a worthy successor is still underway, with Amazon committed to 'keeping the spirit of Bond alive, and that means he has to be British or from the Commonwealth – and he has to be male'. In the meantime, Villeneuve will be busy shooting his third and final Dune movie for Warner Bros and Legendary Entertainment, which is slated for release on 16 December 2026. His other potential projects include Cleopatra , an adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's classic science fiction novel Rendezvous with R ama, and Nuclear War: A Scenario, based on Annie Jacobsen's non-fiction book. Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Amazon Denis Villeneuve Dune James Bond
