The Next James Bond Movie Just Got Its Writer — Here’s What That Means
Daniel Craig’s version of James Bond might not have cared how his martinis were prepared, but a new 007 means a new approach to the character. And the latest update on the franchise’s upcoming reboot from Amazon MGM Studios suggests a potential return to a more cerebral (and more brutal) spin on the iconic British spy. A report from Deadline confirms that Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight to write the next James Bond, which will be directed by Denis Villeneuve.
“It has always been on my bucket list, and it’s fantastic to be invited to do it. I can’t wait to get started,” Knight told BBC Radio (via Deadline). “I’m hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that’s the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder.”
While we still know next to nothing about the upcoming movie, Knight’s previous work may provide a few clues. Set in the aftermath of World War I, his series Peaky Blinders follows Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the leader of the eponymous street gang operating in Birmingham, England. Shelby suffers from PTSD and is addicted to opium, but he doesn’t let the drug dull his ambitions to expand his family business: fixing horse races. Tommy’s always looking for a way to turn a bad situation into an advantage, using his wits to navigate the threat of rival gangs and the police. He also has a strong sense of pride and can be vicious with a razor blade to prove a point.
Many of these qualities could easily be applied to a fresh spin on Bond. The character has been reinvented so many times as the franchise alternates between emphasizing silly gadgets and over-the-top villainous schemes to more grounded fights in gorgeous locations. Knight’s version could easily also be a veteran struggling to manage his drive and his anger as he outwits his enemies to protect Britain.
Hopefully Knight’s script will hew closer to Peaky Blinders than some of his other work. His 2024 globe-trotting spy drama miniseries The Veil was a boring waste of Elisabeth Moss’ talent, with a terrorism-focused plot that felt like it was written a decade or two earlier. Knight’s 2019 Apple TV Plus post-apocalyptic series See looked great but got bogged down by genre tropes and bland characters.
Dune director Dennis Villeneuve is already signed onto Bond 26, so whatever direction Knight takes 007, the film will undoubtedly look great. The next big hint about the franchise’s future will come when the Bond actor is announced.