‘Dune’ Director Denis Villeneuve Teases How the Hunt for the Next James Bond Is Going
The search for Daniel Craig’s successor has dragged through months of rumor, shortlists and unconfirmed names, and director Denis Villeneuve has mostly kept quiet. That made his latest remarks about the next James Bond movie worth noting. They came on a night when the spotlight was supposed to be on him for a different reason.
Villeneuve was honored at LACMA’s Art+Film Gala on Saturday, November 7, which recognized him alongside artist Vija Celmins. Leonardo DiCaprio and Eva Chow co-chaired the event for the 15th consecutive year. The director is also wrapping up ‘Dune: Part Three’, due in theaters on December 18, before he turns fully to 007.
On the gala’s red carpet, Villeneuve told Variety’s cameras that he is having a great time screening actors for the new Bond film. It was a brief, upbeat comment, and he didn’t name anyone or hint at a frontrunner. Still, it confirms that the audition process he has been running is underway and going well from his point of view.
Denis Villeneuve says he’s having a "great time" screening actors for the upcoming James Bond movie. 📍 LACMA Art+Film Gala https://t.co/FgNYHowBb6
— Variety (@Variety) November 8, 2026
Amazon MGM Studios hasn’t officially announced its choice, so the details come from industry reports. The studio confirmed in May that the search had begun, and it hired veteran casting director Nina Gold to run the process. Villeneuve and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman reportedly began contacting actors who advanced to a later round of tests over the summer.
Reports in the fall pointed to a final round. Variety reported that final screen tests for the new 007 were set to happen within a week, with Callum Turner and Jack Lowden said to be in the mix. Deadline’s reporting, as relayed by other outlets, said at least 4 actors received offers to test, with Turner, Lowden and Josh O’Connor believed to be among them.
Earlier reports named a wider pool. Page Six reportedly listed Jack Barton, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Harris Dickinson as candidates for tests in September. None of those names has been confirmed, and Amazon MGM has declined to comment on specifics during the process.
Bond screen tests have a long tradition. Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan landed their roles after performing scenes from earlier Bond films on camera, and footage of Henry Cavill’s attempt has since become famous. Reports say the current tests are comprehensive, covering stunts, camera presence and dialogue.
One talent agent told TheWrap earlier this year that no one would get the part without testing for it. That sentiment fits the sort of careful process Villeneuve seems to be running, and it suggests his enthusiasm at the gala is tied to hands-on work in the audition room.
The film is the first Bond movie developed under Amazon MGM’s creative control, after the company paid $8.5 billion for MGM and took over the franchise from the Broccoli family. The producing team of Pascal and Heyman brings experience from the Bond films ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Quantum of Solace’ and ‘Skyfall’ on one side, and the ‘Harry Potter’ series on the other. Steven Knight, the creator of ‘Peaky Blinders’, is writing the screenplay, and Villeneuve’s wife Tanya Lapointe is an executive producer.
Villeneuve has called himself a die-hard Bond fan and described the character as sacred territory when he was hired in June 2025. That passion fits the way he talks about the casting search, and it echoes the care he has shown with every big franchise project he has taken on.
The release window is still unclear. Telegraph reporting suggested the film is unlikely before 2028, and no official date has been announced. Amazon hasn’t confirmed a date for the casting reveal either, though several reports expect it before the end of 2026.
For now, Villeneuve’s comment is a small but welcome sign that the process is moving. With final tests reportedly done or nearly done, fans may not have to wait much longer for a name.
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