Amazon MGM Studios has announced. The Dune director said in a statement released by the studio that he was a "die-hard James Bond fan" and intends to "honour the tradition" of the franchise. Speculation has been swirling over the future of the 007 films after long-time Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson stepped down from their roles and handed control to Amazon in February.

Villeneuve will also serve as an executive producer of the new film, having received global acclaim for helming the Dune franchise, as well as Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival. Amazon did not give any hints on the next actor to play James Bond in the announcement, after Daniel Craig stepped back from playing the most recent incarnation. Villeneuve acknowledged the "massive responsibility" of helming the new film and expressed his excitement at the challenge. "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," he said. "I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come."

Head of Amazon MGM Studios Mike Hopkins hailed Villeneuve as a "cinematic master" and praised his ability to deliver "immersive storytelling" for global audiences. The director has been known for films that marry grand stylish visuals with complex character-focused stories. His characters, who are frequently loners, emotionally isolated from others, often wrestle with difficult moral dilemmas and concepts of identity. Villeneuve uses tension and emotion to build to impactful action sequences, which can be brutal and brief. That suggests his version of Bond is likely to have more in common with the gritty realism seen in Daniel Craig's Casino Royale than the fantastical fun some fans miss from Roger Moore's days as 007. Ajay Chowdhury, spokesman for the James Bond International Fan Club, thinks Villeneuve's appointment is "the most artistically significant development of the future" of the franchise. (BBC/ Getty Images)