Steven Knight, the acclaimed creator of Peaky Blinders, has been officially confirmed as the screenwriter for the next James Bond film, Amazon MGM Studios announced.
The highly anticipated movie is currently in development and will be directed by Dune filmmaker Denis Villeneuve. It marks a new era for the iconic franchise following the departure of longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson earlier this year.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Knight expressed his excitement: “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.” He added that, as a lifelong Bond fan, he hopes to craft something “the same but different – better, stronger and bolder.”
While details about the plot remain under wraps, Knight did not disclose who will step into the role of 007. Since Daniel Craig’s departure from the franchise in 2021, speculation has been rife. British actors Aaron Taylor-Johnson and James Norton have been tipped as frontrunners, along with Irish actor Paul Mescal. When asked, Knight responded, “That is a very, very good question, and one I can`t give you the answer to,” leaving it unclear whether the casting decision has been made or is being kept confidential.
Knight is best known for creating the BAFTA-winning series Peaky Blinders, set in post-World War I Birmingham and starring Cillian Murphy. The show ran for six successful seasons and is being adapted into a feature film for Netflix. His other notable work includes the Oscar-nominated Dirty Pretty Things (2004), the award-winning BBC series This Town (2024), and Spencer (2021), which earned Kristen Stewart an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Princess Diana.
The previous Bond installment, No Time to Die (2021), was written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, Cary Joji Fukunaga, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Knight shared that he was initially unaware of the opportunity when invited to meet producer Amy Pascal. “Very quickly, I discovered what it was about and became very excited and hopeful,” he said. “There’s a process—meetings, idea discussions—and then you find out you’ve got it. I’ve known for a while, but the official announcement came last night.”
He acknowledged the immense pressure of writing for such a legendary franchise but added, “You’ve just got to do what you do, and do it as well as you can.”
The film is being produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman. According to Variety, the next James Bond movie could be released as early as 2028.
