Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been announced by Amazon MGM Studios as the scriptwriter for the upcoming James Bond film.
This marks a significant revamp of the iconic British spy franchise, following Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson’s decision to hand over creative control to Amazon in a profitable agreement.
In June, it was revealed that Denis Villeneuve, known for Dune, will be directing the film, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing through Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films respectively.
The pair have always insisted on securing a director and developing a screenplay before casting the next super spy.
In 2022, Amazon purchased MGM, which included the rights to distribute James Bond films.
The official Bond film franchise had been under the control of members of the Broccoli family, either solely or in partnership with others, since the first 007 movie Dr No in 1962.
There has been much speculation about who will succeed Daniel Craig as Bond after his final performance in 2021’s No Time to Die.
Steven Knight, aged 65, is the mind behind historical drama series A Thousand Blows, BBC’s This Town and Netflix mini-series All The Light We Cannot See.
He also serves as an executive producer on the new series, Built In Birmingham: Brady And The Blues, which follows Birmingham City football club and key ownership figures, including former NFL quarterback Tom Brady and US businessman Tom Wagner.
His forthcoming ventures encompass the Peaky Blinders film for Netflix and the historical drama series, House Of Guinness.
In the 2020 New Year Honours list, he was awarded a CBE for his contributions to drama, entertainment and the community in Birmingham – the backdrop for Peaky Blinders, featuring Cillian Murphy as the hard-drinking gang leader, Tommy Shelby.