Lea Seydoux admits she was “sad” by the sale of the James Bond franchise. However, she believes it’s in safe hands with Denis Villeneuve at the helm.
The former Bond girl played Madeleine Swann alongside Daniel Craig’s 007 in 2015’s Spectre and 2021’s No Time to Die. She later played Lady Margot in Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two, released in 2024.
“A Bit Sad”
Seydoux has admitted she was disappointed to see Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli sell up to Amazon MGM Studios, but she is reassured that Villeneuve is directing and executive producing the next film.
She told Variety, “I was a bit sad when I heard that it was sold, but now that it’s Denis, I was like, Oh, at least it’s him, so it will be cinema.”
She hailed Villeneuve for being “super cultured,” adding that “he knows so much about cinema, but not only cinema.”
Awaiting a New Bond
Fans have been eagerly awaiting news on the next Bond ever since Craig quit after No Time To Die.
It’s been five years since moviegoers had a 007 adventure to look forward to. Luckily, there was finally a fresh update on Amazon MGM Studios’ ongoing hunt for the next actor to play the iconic spy.
In a recent statement, the studio confirmed auditions are underway to find the right star for the coveted role.
They said, “The search for the next James Bond is underway. While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right.”
According to Variety, Amazon MGM bosses enlisted casting agent Nina Gold to help find the next Bond. Her successes include The Martian, Les Misérables, and the Star Wars franchise.
That does mean even more speculation about who will get the part. Everyone from Damson Idris and Jacob Elordi to Callum Turner has been linked in recent months.
Behind the Scenes Changes
There’s been a lot of change behind the scenes for the Bond movies too, especially after longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson eventually followed Craig out the door.
Amazon MGM is the custodian of the franchise, based on Ian Fleming’s classic spy novels, with Villeneuve directing from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight’s script.
For his part, filmmaker Villeneuve has promised to respect the “sacred territory” of the movies and the iconic character.
After it was announced he’d be at the helm, the director said, “Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since Dr. No with Sean Connery.”
“To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.”