Peaky Blinders creator to script Amazon’s first 007 outing under Denis Villeneuve’s direction.
When Amazon MGM Studios acquired full creative control over James Bond earlier this year, it was only a matter of time before the shape of the next film began to form. That shape now has a screenwriter. Steven Knight, the mind behind Peaky Blinders, Taboo, and SAS Rogue Heroes, has been confirmed to write the script for 007’s next cinematic outing.
Knight’s hiring follows months of deliberation and a final meeting with director Denis Villeneuve, who has been deep into filming Dune: Part Three since early July. Villeneuve, having previously passed on what eventually became No Time to Die, now finds himself in command of Bond’s next reinvention — but only after aligning with Knight’s vision for the story. The green light only came after their meeting, with both men satisfied with the direction.
For Bond fans, Knight’s appointment raises eyebrows — not least for his distinctive tone. While some have hailed Peaky Blinders as stylish, sharp and morally complex, others found it heavy on swagger and thin on substance. Still, there’s no questioning Knight’s credentials. His breakout script, Dirty Pretty Things, earned an Oscar nod. Eastern Promises and Spencer followed, both critically acclaimed and similarly decorated. His facility with moody characters operating in shadowy spaces is not in doubt.
This will mark Knight’s first collaboration with Villeneuve. The French-Canadian director, known for meticulous pacing and control over vast cinematic landscapes, has previously helmed Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the ongoing Dune saga. If Knight can provide the words and Villeneuve the visual weight, Bond may be headed somewhere colder, stranger, and more morally ambiguous than ever.
As for the next James Bond? Casting is not expected to happen before mid 2026. Until then, it’s back to the typewriter to plot the next chapter of Bond’s long and brutal career.
