The man behind Tommy Shelby is writing James Bond's next mission: Steven Knight joins Denis Villeneuve

Washington: Steven Knight, the acclaimed creator of the hit BAFTA-winning series 'Peaky Blinders,' has officially joined the creative team for the upcoming James Bond film, which will be directed by Denis Villeneuve. As reported by Variety, Knight has been tapped to pen the screenplay for the 26th instalment of the iconic 007 franchise.

The new James Bond movie is being produced by Amy Pascal and David Heyman, under their respective banners, Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films. This marks a significant development for the next chapter of Bond, with Villeneuve having been officially hired last month to helm the film. The studio is reportedly aiming for a potential 2028 release date and has been keen to secure a screenwriter quickly.

Steven Knight brings a formidable resume to the Bond universe. Beyond 'Peaky Blinders' (starring Cillian Murphy), his extensive television credits include 'See' (Apple TV+), 'SAS Rogue Heroes' (BBC), 'A Thousand Blows' (Disney+), 'This Town' (BBC), 'The Veil' (FX), and 'All the Light We Cannot See' (Netflix). He is also notably the co-creator of the internationally renowned game show 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'.

Knight's filmography is equally impressive, featuring screenplays for Oscar-nominated films such as 'Dirty Pretty Things' (for which he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay), 'Eastern Promises,' and 'Spencer.' He has also written and directed 'Hummingbird,' 'Locke,' and 'Serenity.' His upcoming projects include a highly anticipated 'Peaky Blinders' feature film for Netflix and the historical drama series 'House of Guinness.'

With both Denis Villeneuve and Steven Knight now on board, the next critical step for the production will be to cast the actor who will take on the mantle of James Bond, following Daniel Craig's memorable tenure.

With inputs from ANI