‘Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight to pen script for next ‘James Bond’

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been tapped to write the next James Bond film. According to Deadline, Knight secured the job following a recent meeting with director Denis Villeneuve, who is currently filming the third Dune instalment.

Knight, 65, brings a varied resume to the iconic spy series. He is best known for creating the acclaimed BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders, as well as writing films such as Eastern Promises, Dirty Pretty Things, Locke, and Spencer. On television, his credits include Taboo, A Thousand Blows, and The Veil. He is also set to write the upcoming Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man, and a Netflix period drama titled House of Guinness.

While known primarily for gritty drama, Knight has previously hinted at his interest in large-scale cinematic storytelling. Speaking about The Immortal Man last year, he referenced James Bond directly, noting the difference in scale between TV and film: “You can blow stuff up,” he said. “Will Tommy be giving James Bond a run for his money? Maybe.”

The next Bond film will be the 26th official entry in the long-running franchise and the first since Daniel Craig’s swan song, No Time to Die, which grossed over $774 million worldwide. The title character has yet to be cast, but actors Tom Holland, Jacob Elordi, and Harris Dickinson are reportedly being considered.

Villeneuve, known for Arrival and Dune, confirmed his involvement earlier this year, saying, “I intend to honour the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come.”

Amazon MGM, which secured creative control of the franchise in a reported $1 billion deal, is backing the project. CEO Andy Jassy called the upcoming film “a major priority” during a recent earnings call.