New James Bond writer Steven Knight reveals future of franchise

Amazon MGM Studios made a big announcement on Thursday that Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight will write Denis Villeneuve’s new James Bond film.

The creator of the BAFTA-winning series went behind the microphone with BBC Radio 5’s Live Breakfast to give his first interview about the reticent project.

On Friday morning, Knight said being involved in a 007 film has “always been on my bucket list.”

“It’s fantastic to be invited to do it,” he added. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Knight, who was Oscar-nominated for Dirty Pretty Things (2003), said he was invited to a meeting with producer Amy Pascal but “didn’t know what it was about.”

“I very quickly discovered what it was about and became very excited and hopeful,” Knight told the BBC. “And then the process is… you do some meetings, you discuss some ideas, and then you find out you’ve got it. I found out a while ago, but it was announced last night, which is great.”

When asked whether he felt pressure writing the new Bond film, the first with Amazon in control of the franchise, Knight responded:

“I mean, the way I look at it, you’ve just gotta do what you do, do it as well as you can, and then what else can you do?”

Knight, whose credits also include Pablo Larraín’s films Spencer and Maria, added: “I’m hoping that being a Bond fan for so many years will sort of be imbued into me, and I’ll be able to produce something that’s the same but different — better, stronger, and bolder.”

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