Director Denis Villeneuve, known for projects such as Dune and Arrival, officially signed on in June to direct the next James Bond film. Since that announcement, the production has added screenwriter Steven Knight, and new reports suggest that British actor Callum Turner may be Villeneuve’s top choice to play Agent 007.
Entertainment reporter Jeff Sneider claims in his latest newsletter that Turner is Villeneuve’s “top choice” to take over the role of the British secret agent. The 35-year-old actor has appeared in several British television productions and is familiar to U.S. audiences for his role as Theseus Scamander in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. Turner currently stars in the fantasy romance Eternity opposite Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen.
Villeneuve was chosen after several high-profile directors were reportedly considered, including Edward Berger of Conclave, Edgar Wright of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Jonathan Nolan of Westworld, and Paul King of Paddington.
“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 in a statement. “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. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”
Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, praised the director’s track record. “We are honored 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 theaters. 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.”
Earlier this year, the studio announced that producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman had joined the project. They said, “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.”
Villeneuve will also serve as executive producer along with Tanya Lapointe. No release date has been confirmed for the next James Bond film.
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English (US) · 