James Bond, here we go again. Finally something is moving on the part of Her Majesty's secret agent after the shock following the announcement that the historic producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson had given in to Jeff Bezos's colossus. For months everything seemed to be at a standstill: nothing filtered out about the new film to the point that rumors had questioned whether a new film was in the works. And instead Amazon Mgm Studios, which now has the franchise in its hands, has made the announcement: Denis Villeneuve has been chosen to direct the next film in the famous 007 saga.

The Canadian director of Dune and Arrival will thus make his first foray into the world of the iconic spy, brought to the forefront seven decades ago by writer Ian Fleming.

Villeneuve said he grew up watching Bond films with his father. “I’m a huge Bond fan. It’s sacred territory for me,” Villeneuve said in a statement released by Amazon. “I intend to honor the legacy and pave the way for many new missions to come,” he added.

It is not yet known who will play Her Majesty's spy. Daniel Craig's last performance as James Bond came in 2021 with "No Time to Die". Since then, 007 has seen many twists and turns but nothing to see at the cinema. First of all, production issues: Amazon paid $8.45 billion to acquire the legendary Hollywood studio MGM in 2022, which included the catalog of previous James Bond films. For three years it pressured Broccoli and Wilson, encountering fierce resistance from those who had jealously guarded creative control of the character since forever. And only in February did they give in: Amazon reached a financial agreement to assume creative control of the franchise for an undisclosed amount. A handover that had made fans fear for the possible loss of maniacal care of the Bond projects that Broccoli and Wilson had always had: in the hands of Amazon the character could suffer massive exploitation, give birth to series and spin-offs for the group's streaming platform, Prime, or multiply the number of films that in recent years have been doled out, creating ever-spasmodic expectations in the world. The choice of Denis Villeneuve, a director of auteur blockbusters, would seem to be the right answer to Bond purists, a sort of guarantee.

The 57-year-old Canadian director, also known for "Blade Runner 2049" and the stunning "The Woman Who Sings", hit the mark with Dune starring Timotheè Chalamet and Zendaya: both chapters of the sci-fi saga were nominated for an Oscar as Best Film and the second grossed 700 million dollars at the global box office and won two Oscars: Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.

As for the new James Bond, clues would converge on Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 35, suspected for his recent nomination as testimonial of the Swiss brand Omega, official supplier of Bond watches since Golden Eye. Another name is that of Josh O'Connor, without forgetting other actors in the running such as Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan, James Norton, Henry Cavill, Regè Jean-Page and Richard Madden.

(Online Union)

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