All of which is to say: congratulations, Denis Villeneuve! You've just landed the hardest-to-get directing job in Hollywood. The 58-year-old French-Canadian auteur will be helming the 26th Bond film - the first since longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson sold the franchise earlier this year to Amazon for a reported $1 billion.

Denis Villeneuve’s booking as the next James Bond director should come as no surprise to followers of the Dune director’s work - he has spoken about his desire to helm 007 for more than a decade. Villeneuve has peppered many an interview with “come and get me” pleas to Barbara Broccoli.

The future of 007 seemed bleak when Amazon acquired creative control of the franchise. Thanks to the Dune director, things have changed.