James Bond 26 confirms Peaky Blinders creator to write script as Amazon "cannot wait to get started" on film
Steven Knight will be behind the script of Denis Villeneuve's new movie.
The busiest man in entertainment just got a whole lot busier.
Steven Knight, the writer behind Peaky Blinders, SAS Rogue Heroes and countless other shows and films, has been confirmed to pen the script for the next James Bond film, as we get ever close to production.
Deadline has reported that Knight was one of a number of candidates for the position, but that final sign-off depended on a meeting with the film's director Denis Villeneuve, who is currently filming Dune Part 3.
A meeting between the two is said to have gone ahead last week, with Villeneuve "fully on board" for Knight to get the job.
With the producers (Amy Pascal and David Heyman), director and writer now all in place, it seems it can only be a matter of time until thoughts turn to casting, and we finally find out who will play the next iteration of Bond.
Knight's upcoming projects include the Peaky Blinders movie and Netflix series House of Guinness, while he has previously written the scripts for films including Locke, Burnt, Allied, The Girl in the Spider's Web, Serenity, Locked Down, Spencer and Maria.
His appointment comes as Amazon CEO Andy Jassy noted the company's excitement about the film on a call after a Q2 earnings report.
"James Bond is in the hands of one of today’s greatest filmmakers," he said. "We cannot wait to get started on 007’s next adventure."
Barbara Broccoli, the long-time producer who stepped back from creative duties on the Bond franchise earlier this year, recently gave her verdict on Villeneuve as the film's director, telling Mark Kermode on his Kermode on Film Podcast: "He’s a fantastic filmmaker, I’m thrilled he’s going to be doing it."
When Villeneuve was announced as director, he said that he was "a die-hard Bond fan" and that he intends "to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come".
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
