Of all the directors linked with taking charge of Bond 25, Denis Villeneuve was reportedly the preferred choice of lead actor Daniel Craig, and it seems long-serving producer Barbara Broccoli agrees.

Between Sicario, Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, Villeneuve has established an impactful style that would perfectly suit a Bond movie, and he's revealed that he was indeed approached about replacing the departing Sam Mendes on the next instalment. Sadly, he wasn't prepared to drop the projects he has lined up.

“I said to Barbara [Broccoli], I would love to work with you and with Daniel, but I’m engaged [Laughs]," he told Screen Crush.

"I will love to do it, honestly. I’m a spoiled filmmaker right now… I think Daniel Craig is a fantastic actor and I would like to, but several months ago I came into do Dune and I engaged myself. I committed myself and I’m someone that doesn’t step back.

"I remember I committed to do Enemy, they came with Prisoners I said, I need to do Enemy first, and I had to break to bend the schedule. I did the same with Arrival and Blade Runner. I did Blade Runner, one of my conditions was that I would have time to do Arrival first. Once I commit, I commit."

He ultimately chose the upcoming remake of David Lynch's Dune over Bond, but insists a 007 movie is a "fantasy" of his that he hopes to realise at a later date.

He continued: "When Legendary offered me to do Dune, on a silver plate? Which was like my dream project that I’m dreaming to do for 30 years? I said yes right away. I want to honor that. It doesn’t mean the movie will happen, maybe in six months the movie will – and Bond is an old fantasy of mine, but I can’t be in two places at the same time. It’s a strange year because I would love to do a James Bond. I need to focus."