
Former James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has weighed in on the hiring of Denis Villeneuve to direct the long-awaited next instalment of the spy saga. Speaking to the Kermode on Film podcast, Broccoli described Villeneuve as "a fantastic filmmaker" and stated, "I'm thrilled he's going to be doing it."
Broccoli and her brother Michael G. Wilson surprised many in the industry earlier this year when they ceded creative control of the 007 series to Amazon MGM Studios. They had previously been the co-producers of the series since 1995's Goldeneye. In an unusual agreement, Broccoli and Wilson remain co-owners of the franchise alongside Amazon MGM Studios, with the latter party steering the course of Bond's missions.