Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve to direct the next James Bond

Online retail giant Amazon, which has acquired the rights to the legendary franchise, has chosen a director who is very popular in Hollywood, notably known for the "Dune" saga.

Following the box-office success of the Dune saga, Canadian director Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond film , Amazon MGM Studios announced on Wednesday, June 25. For its highly anticipated first foray into the world of the British spy, the online retail giant has chosen a filmmaker who is very popular in Hollywood.

"I am a huge Bond fan. For me, he is a sacred character," Denis Villeneuve said in a statement, adding that he "grew up watching the James Bond films with [his] father." "I intend to honor the tradition and pave the way for many new missions to come," he added, while it is still unknown who will play the spy in the film, following Daniel Craig's retirement.

Amazon paid nearly $8.45 billion to acquire the legendary Hollywood studio MGM in 2022, which included the catalog of past James Bond films. But the distribution giant faced resistance for three years from Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson, the saga's longtime producers, who had retained creative control of the character for decades. Amazon finally reached a financial agreement with them in February to take creative control of the franchise. For an undisclosed amount, it allows Jeff Bezos's company to helm Bond's next adventures.

"We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct the next chapter of James Bond. He is a master of cinema, whose filmography speaks for itself," said Mike Hopkins, head of Amazon MGM Studios and Amazon Prime. Denis Villeneuve, who directed both installments of the sci-fi saga Dune , is also known for Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival .