James Bond: "Peaky Blinders" Creator to Write New 007 Movie

The new "Bond" film is making further progress: After recently securing a big name as director in Denis Villeneuve, a renowned screenwriter has now also been signed up for the new 007 film. As Amazon MGM officially announced, the script will be written by Steven Knight.

Knight is best known as the creator and showrunner of the hit series "Peaky Blinders". He also developed the historical series "Taboo" starring Tom Hardy. But he has also made a name for himself in the film industry: Among other things, he wrote the screenplay for David Cronenberg's gangster thriller "Eastern Promises".

It's fair to say: The choice of director and screenwriter is certainly promising. However, one big question still remains: Who will be the next James Bond? For years, fans have been calling for Henry Cavill. Most recently, "28 Years Later" actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson and "Rebel Ridge" star Aaron Pierre were also linked to the iconic agent role. At the moment, we can only speculate. But with the announcement of Knight as screenwriter, the next step in production has been taken. As the director and producers of the film have already been announced, it will hopefully not be too long before we hear about the new 007.

What can we expect in the new James Bond?

With Villeneuve and Knight, the two most important creative personnel have now been finalized. So what kind of "James Bond" film can we expect? Knight's previous films and series have often focused on anti-heroes or characters with moral gray areas. His most popular anti-hero is probably Cillian Murphy's Thomas Shelby from "Peaky Blinders". With "Eastern Promises", he delivered a brutal, atmospherically dense thriller. In his film "Locke" with Tom Hardy, the main focus is on psychological tension.

These are all factors that could also play a role in the new "Bond". After Daniel Craig's Bond has already opened up the character emotionally and made him more vulnerable, Knight could continue along this path. Instead of over-the-top gadgets and glossy action, a "Knight Bond" would probably be earthier, more political, quieter – but no less intense. We can hope for sharp, pointed dialog, lots of atmosphere and depth of character.

Denis Villeneuve as director

This could well suit Denis Villeneuve. In recent years, the Canadian director has established himself as one of the most important filmmakers of our time. Ever since "Arrival", "Blade Runner 2049" and the "Dune" series, he has been regarded as a master of sophisticated blockbuster cinema. However, his (Hollywood) career began with intense, psychologically dense films such as "Incendies" and "Prisoners", a disturbing kidnap thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal.

"Sicario" also deserves a special mention: a lead-heavy, morally ambivalent thriller about the drug war on the US-Mexican border. Much of Villeneuve's directorial style is already evident here: claustrophobic tension, sophisticated visual compositions, major themes such as power, violence, ethics – and characters who get lost in an opaque moral labyrinth. Villeneuve does not rely on fast cuts, but on long takes, dense atmosphere and the feeling that every scene is allowed to breathe – or sometimes suppresses breathing.

What does this mean for the new James Bond?

A "Bond" film directed by Villeneuve could move away somewhat from the classic patterns of the series. We can expect a darker and more serious interpretation of the character. His production will probably focus more on suspense and atmosphere than on continuous explosions – think of the coldness and precision of "Sicario".

A "different" "James Bond" film doesn't have to mean anything bad – on the contrary: "Casino Royale" with Daniel Craig impressively demonstrated back in 2006 how well a stylistic and narrative new beginning can work. His Bond was more vulnerable, raw and emotionally tangible – a new, fresh interpretation. It will be interesting to see what Villeneuve and Knight's vision actually looks like – and who will be seen as the new Bond.