The news that Denis Villeneuve will helm the next James Bond film has fans convinced that Timothée Chalamet is about to become the next 007.
Amazon MGM announced on Wednesday that the Dune and Blade Runner 2049 director will direct the next entry in the long-running franchise.
Expressing his reverence for the character, Denis said: ‘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.’
The announcement has some fans convinced that Denis might bring with him a Bond of his own – Dune and Dune: Part 2 star Timothée.
Is the one-time Willy Wonka about to be handed his license to kill?
Taking to X as the news landed, fans shared their thoughts on Denis’ new job – speculating that he might bring 29-year-old Timothée along for the ride.
‘Now cast Timothée Chalamalabingbong as James Bond,’ wrote the user Cookin_Meth.
‘TIMOTHEE CHALAMET ANSWER THE PHONE!!! YOU ARE JAMES BOND!!’ exclaimed wixeddreams_.
‘Timothee is gonna be the next bond,’ Dmoney2499 speculated.
‘I assume this means Timothee Chalamet will be the next James Bond,’ agreed JamesHazelden.
The French-American actor has worked with Denis to play Paul Atreides in the sci-fi action franchise Dune.
As the Lisan al Gaib, Paul was the main character in the series’ first two entries, and will return in the 2026 sequel Dune: Messiah.
Denis cast Timothée in the role after being impressed by his performance in the 2017 romance Call Me By Your Name.
‘I have to thank you because seeing Timothée’s performance in “Call Me by Your Name” is one of the main driving forces [for me] to think about Paul Atreides,’ he told the film’s director, Luca Guadagnino, in a chat chaired by Variety.
‘There was something about that intelligence that I saw in his eyes and the maturity in that youth that you captured that I said, “Oh my God, maybe it could be him.’
Speculation as to the next Bond’s identity has been rife since Daniel Craig vacated the role after 2021’s No Time to Die.
As the film searched for its director, 28 Years Later star Aaron Taylor-Johnson emerged as early frontrunner, alongside The While Lotus alumnus Theo James.
Happy Valley actor James Norton, Emily in Paris’s Lucien Laviscount and The Crown star Josh O’ Connor have also been named as potential contenders for the role.
Only this week, Mufasa: The Lion King star Aaron Pierre also entered the running, following a leak from entertainment insider Daniel Ritchman.
Latest odds for the next James Bond actor
- Theo James – 7/2
- Aaron Taylor-Johnson – 11/8
- Callum Turner – 16/1
- Harris Dickinson – 16/1
- Henry Cavill – 4/1
- Jack Lowden – 12/1
- James Norton – 12/1
- Josh O’Connor – 33/1
- Tom Hardy – 20/1
(Odds via Ladbrokes)
After being purchased by Amazon for $$8.45billion (£6.7billion) in 2022, an agreement over creative control means that the franchise’s future is entirely in the streaming service’s hands.
This includes the monumental decision as to who will fill the iconic spy’s shoes.
Prior to this landmark development, family-run Eon Productions had been responsible for the franchise since its first film in 1962.
Of Denis’s appointment as director, Mike Hopkins, head of Amazon MGM Studios said: ‘We are honoured that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond’s next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself.
‘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.’
In a statement, Denis described himself as a ‘die-hard’ Bond fan, promising: ‘I intend to honour 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 honour.’
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