Denis Villeneuve says no to new Bond movie

Los Angeles: Director Denis Villeneuve has declined to helm the next instalment of iconic Bond series.

The 49-year-old French-Canadian director said he is "busy" with his next project, the "Dune" remake.

"The thing is I don't now about that, but listen. Daniel Craig is a very inspiring actor and I had some contact and the thing is that I'm busy right now doing 'Dune'.

"But, I will say to have the privilege to work with him it would be a dream. I would love to work with Daniel and a Bond movie for me would be a treat. It's a matter of timing, I guess," Villeneuve told The Playlist.

The director is to tackle a new version of the Frank Herbert novel "Dune", following the critically-mauled David Lynch version released in 1984.