Amazon MGM and director Denis Villeneuve have officially confirmed Steven Knight—creator of Peaky Blinders—as the screenwriter for the next James Bond movie, slated for a 2028 release. As the franchise enters a bold new era under Amazon’s stewardship, Knight’s rich resume of gritty stories, emotional drama, and character-driven twists makes him a perfect fit.
Here’s a curated look at his career, signature style, and what Bond might look like through his pen.
Early Career & Breakout Screenplays
Born in Marlborough, England, in 1959, Steven Knight began writing radio commercials and novels before breaking into screenwriting. His first major film credit was Dirty Pretty Things (2002), directed by Stephen Frears. That gripping thriller about immigration and underground organ trafficking earned him an Academy Award nomination and won multiple British awards,
Next came Eastern Promises (2007), directed by David Cronenberg and starring Viggo Mortensen. Knight’s screenplay earned Golden Globe and BAFTA recognition for its compelling depiction of the Russian mafia in London—establishing him as a writer unafraid of moral ambiguity or complex characters.
Knight often writes entire films without a writers’ room, approaching TV as one long story. Caryn Mandabach notes that he scripted 36 hours of Peaky Blinders alone, equivalent to 18 movies by some standards.
Directorial Ventures: Locke, Hummingbird, Serenity
Knight expanded into directing with Locke (2014), a psychological drama featuring Tom Hardy as the lone on-screen character. The entire story unfolds during a single car drive—requiring tight, tense dialogue showcasing Knight’s minimalist power.
He followed with Hummingbird (also known as Redemption), starring Jason Statham in a raw underworld journey, and Serenity (2019) with Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway. While Serenity received mixed reviews—including being labelled “magnificently terrible” by The Guardian—it demonstrated Knight’s ambition and willingness to take risks.
Television Triumphs: Peaky Blinders & More
Perhaps Knight’s most renowned creation is Peaky Blinders (2013–2022), the BBC drama following the Shelby gang in post‑World War I Birmingham. Knight’s writing—rich in atmosphere, class conflict, and moral grey zones—powered the show’s global success. It also inspired a forthcoming feature film starring Cillian Murphy and Rebecca Ferguson.
He also created Taboo (with Tom Hardy), See (Apple TV+), SAS: Rogue Heroes, This Town, All the Light We Cannot See, The Veil, and A Thousand Blows—his latest on Disney+ and Hulu, exploring Victorian London’s bare-knuckle boxing and all-female gang wars.
The New Bond Equation: Knight Meets Villeneuve
On July 31, 2025, Amazon MGM officially tapped Knight as the writer for the next James Bond film—the 26th in the official series—with Denis Villeneuve attached as director and Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing.
Villeneuve, known for Dune, Blade Runner 2049, and Arrival, called Bond “sacred territory” and sees Steven Knight as ideal to balance bold storytelling and legacy respect.
Amazon’s creative control opens new doors, and Knight’s gritty, character-focused style offers a new Bond that speaks to class, trauma, and moral nuance—core themes in his work.
Why Knight Fits Bond Perfectly
Grit Meets Glamour
Steven Knight excels at blending glamour with grime. His stories feel both cinematic and grounded: Dirty Pretty Things navigates London’s underbelly, Eastern Promises stares down corruption and morality, and Peaky Blinders crafts style from violence and loyalty.
Psychological Depth
Bond 26 is expected to go deeper, maybe exploring shaken psyches, geopolitical upheaval, and class dynamics—something Knight’s scripts consistently reflect.
Single Vision Storytelling
Used to working solo, Knight likely brings cohesion and clarity to a Bond script, bypassing writers’ rooms for a strong tonal identity.
Key Works Summary
Dirty Pretty Things (2002)
Knight’s debut screenplay: a gripping thriller on London’s immigrant underworld. Won multiple awards and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Eastern Promises (2007)
A criminal underworld drama with a standout turn by Viggo Mortensen. Complex and morally ambiguous, it earned global acclaim.
Locke (2013)
A daring one-set road drama. Quiet, tense, and character-driven—a showcase for minimalist writing and narrative focus.
Hummingbird & Serenity
Steven Knight wrote and directed both. Hummingbird (a redemption thriller) and Serenity (a surreal mystery) reflect his bold narrative instincts, even if polarising.
Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)
Steven Knight wrote, created, and produced all six seasons solo. British crime drama that became a global cultural phenomenon—and now expanding into a feature film.
A Thousand Blows (2025)
True-crime Victorian drama featuring women boxers and street gangs, showcasing Steven Knight’s mastery of history, class conflict, and emotional focus.
What Bond Could Be Under Knight
- A darker, more realistic Bond, steeped in class politics and human conflict.
- A narrative rooted in global power plays, espionage realism, and Bond’s internal struggle.
- A script with lean dialogue and emotional subtext, traits that defined Peaky Blinders and Locke.
- A Bond less reliant on gadgetry, more anchored in psychological depth.
Anticipated Timeline & Impact
- Projected release: 2028, giving room for pre-production through 2025–27, as Dune: Part Three wraps and Batman: Part II develops.
- Next leading actor: Amazon reportedly scouting British talent under 30—Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson, Jacob Elordi are among top contenders.
- Knight’s other upcoming works include the Peaky Blinders feature The Immortal Man, House of Guinness series, and major adaptations—all indicating his workload continues to rise.
Final Thoughts from ScoopCast
Steven Knight’s appointment signals a bold new chapter for Bond—rooted not in nostalgia, but in depth, grit, and character. Expect a film as grounded in real emotion as it is in high stakes. In a creative partnership with Denis Villeneuve, Amazon MGM seems poised to deliver a 007 that resonates with today’s zeitgeist—complex, cinematic, and refreshingly humane.
