Denis Villeneuve to direct the next James Bond film

The announcement was made by Amazon MGM Studios yesterday.

Los Angeles: Denis Villeneuve, the visionary filmmaker acclaimed for "Dune", "Arrival" and "Blade Runner 2049", has been officially confirmed as the director of the next James Bond movie.

The announcement was made by Amazon MGM Studios yesterday.

Villeneuve, who will also serve as executive producer, a rare distinction in the franchise's storied history, expressed both reverence and resolve in undertaking the role.

"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", reports BBC.

The announcement follows a notable regime change, with longtime stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepping down from active control earlier this year, thus formally entrusting the franchise to Amazon.

The announcement comes amid ongoing speculation surrounding the next actor to don the tuxedo, following Daniel Craig's definitive departure after "No Time to Die".

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.

"It is testimony to the cultural weight of the nearly 70-year-old film series that a director of such critical and commercial weight wants to and has been chosen to direct the next instalment," he told BBC News.

Though casting and plot details remain under wraps, industry observers anticipate a tonal shift Villeneuve's direction, away from the bombast of earlier entries and toward a more psychologically nuanced, atmospherically intense interpretation of 007.

Production timelines remain fluid, as Villeneuve is currently preparing to helm "Dune Messiah" with a projected release in 2026. He is also attached to direct a string of other movies - "Nuclear War: A Scenario"; a new version of Cleopatra; and "Rendezvous with Rama".