The name's Villeneuve. Denis Villeneuve. The Dune director, 57, will direct the next James Bond film, which will mark the 28th film in the 60-year-old franchise. It will be the first produced by Amazon MGM Studios following Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson's decision earlier this year to step back from overseeing the series. Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce the new film. “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. I'm a die-hard Bond fan," Villeneuve said in a statement released by Amazon MGM Studios on Wednesday, June 25. The Oscar-nominated director continued, "To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.” “Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it’s ours, too," Heyman and Pascal said. "We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker.” Casting for the new Bond has not been announced. Amazon MGM has yet to announce a writer as well. Villeneuve gained international fame in 2010 for his French-language, Oscar-nominated film Incendies. That led to Hollywood projects like Prisoners, Enemy and Sicario. He earned his first Best Director Oscar nod for Arrival. He also earned Best Picture nominations for Dune: Part One and Dune: Part Two, as well as a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay for Dune: Part One. He also helmed Blade Runner 2049. The 28th Bond film will be the first since Broccoli and Wilson agreed to a new joint venture with Amazon MGM in February. Amazon MGM now has creative control of the franchise, while Broccoli and Wilson remain co-owners of the series. Daniel Craig is the most recent actor to play Bond. He played the part in Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021). He told the Los Angeles Times in November 2022 that after five installments, he "need[ed] to move on" from the franchise. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer. Pierce Brosnan, who preceded Craig as Bond, shared a similar sentiment on the casting, telling GQ, "I don't care" who gets the role in September 2022. "It'll be interesting to see who they get, who the man shall be. Whoever he be, I wish him well," he said at the time. The role was originated by Sean Connery in 1962's Terence Young-helmed Dr. No and has since also been portrayed by George Lazenby, Roger Moore and Timothy Dalton. Based on British novelist Ian Fleming's character that first appeared in 1953's Casino Royale, the 007 franchise has seen the MI6 agent go on a number of death-defying international espionage missions, grossing more than $7 billion over the decades.