Danny Boyle’s replacement as director of the 25th James Bond film has been named as Cary Fukunaga, best known for helming HBO’s True Detective.

Posting on the official James Bond Twitter feed on Thursday, producers from Eon, the outfit behind Bond, confirmed the hire of the Beasts of No Nation film-maker, writing: “We are delighted to be working with Cary. His versatility and innovation make him an excellent choice for our next James Bond adventure.”

Filming will begin in March 2019 for a worldwide release date of February 14, 2020 – just three months later than originally scheduled.

Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli were reported to have met with numerous directors after Boyle dropped out in August over “creative differences”, said to revolve around Boyle’s script with Trainspotting writer John Hodge.

Last week veteran 007 screenwriters Neal Purvis and Robert Wade were confirmed to be back on board for the latest instalment in the franchise.

Filming had been slated to start this November, but after Boyle’s departure, star Daniel Craig signed on to shoot whodunnit film Knives for Star Wars director Rian Johnson this winter.

Amongst names tipped to replace Boyle were Christopher McQuarrie, whose latest Mission: Impossible film won 007 comparisons, Arrival’s Denis Villenueve, White Boy Rick’s Yann Demange and David Mackenzie, the Scottish director of Hell or High Water.

Fukunaga, 41, made his debut with critically acclaimed Sin Nombre in 2009, before directing Michael Fassbender in a 2011 version of Jane Eyre. The Netflix-backed Beasts of No Nation followed in 2015, picking up a Golden Globe nomination – and SAG award – for star Idris Elba (who, along with Fassbender, had been rumoured to be in the running to take over from Craig).

His latest project, Maniac, is a Netflix series starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone as participants in a mysterious pharmaceutical trial. Fukunaga also won much praise for his work directing the first season of HBO’s True Detective.

His appointment marks only the second time an American director had taken the reins for this most British of film series, following Irvin Kershner’s 1983 instalment Never Say Never Again.

The move has been broadly welcomed by critics, who have applauded the producers’ vision in hiring a relatively young director best known for his collaboration with a streaming service, as well as his cerebral style and long takes.

Said the Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw: “Fukunaga is a very smart, capable director who has shown with his wide range of projects that he can handle action, ambitious location work and big above-the-title performances."

“[R]ightly or wrongly, Eon doesn’t want auteurs. Sam Mendes, the director who took Bond to the next level of box-office success with Skyfall and Spectre, isn’t an auteur, but an outstanding team captain.” Their hope is evidently that Fukunaga is cut from the same cloth.

The film – which is still untitled – is likely to be Craig’s final outing in the role, after taking over from Pierce Brosnan for 2006’s Casino Royale. Now 50, the actor expressed a preference for slashing his wrists rather than reprising the role while promoting Spectre in 2015, but was apparently lured back to the tuxedo by Broccoli.