James Bond star Léa Seydoux has admitted she was saddened by the news of Amazon MGM Studio's acquisition of the iconic franchise. In February 2025, long-serving producers of the spy series, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, announced they were handing over creative control to the Jeff Bezos-founded streamer.
"I was a bit sad when I heard that it was sold," Seydoux, 40, told Variety in a new interview. The acclaimed French actor — who starred as Dr. Madeleine Swann, the love interest of Daniel Craig's 007 in Spectre (2015) and No Time to Die (2021) — however, expressed relief that the next installment is in the hands of her Dune: Part Two director, Denis Villeneuve.
"Now that it's Denis, I was like, 'Oh, at least it's him, so it will be cinema,'" she said, further praising the Oscar-nominated Canadian filmmaker as "super cultured — he knows so much about cinema, but not only cinema."
Villeneuve's Appointment and Fan Reactions
Villeneuve, 58, was appointed as the director of the franchise's first film under Amazon MGM in June 2025. The news left 007 fans divided, with some excited to experience the Arrival director's take on the British spy and his exploits, while others were skeptical about his ability to keep up with the high-octane storylines of Bond.
"Some of my earliest moviegoing 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. To me, he's sacred territory," Villeneuve said in a statement at the time. "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."
Casting Rumors and Auditions
Since Craig's final outing as Bond in No Time to Die, feverish speculation has ensued about who will take over. A number of high-profile actors have been rumored to be in contention for the role of 007. At one time, Bullet Train star Aaron Taylor-Johnson was considered the favorite to take over from Craig, with others including Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson and Jacob Elordi in the running.
It was later reported that Villeneuve might be searching for an "unknown" actor to play the lead. Last week, it was announced that auditions for the role are officially underway. "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," Amazon MGM said in a statement.
