Cary Joji Fukunaga will direct the new James Bond film, the producers have announced.

The 25th Bond instalment will begin filming in London, at Pinewood Studios, on March 4, 2019, with a target release date of February 14, 2020.

Fukunaga, who won acclaim for the 2015 war film Beasts of No Nation, replaces Danny Boyle, who exited the project over differences with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and returning star Daniel Craig.

“We are delighted to be working with Cary. His versatility and innovation make him an excellent choice for our next James Bond adventure,” Broccoli and Wilson said on Twitter.

Michael G. Wilson, Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig announced today that #Bond25 will begin filming at Pinewood Studios on 4 March 2019 under the helm of director, Cary Joji Fukunaga with a worldwide release date of 14 February 2020. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/Oyzt826sXd

— James Bond (@007) September 20, 2018

Fukunaga, who also directed Jane Eyre and multiple episodes of True Detective and Maniac on TV, was not on many – or any – Bond watchers’ radar as Boyle’s replacement.

The 41-year-old Fukunaga, who has said in the past he would like to direct a movie from horseback, has said his Beasts of No Nation star Idris Elba would be an ideal Bond – prompting online talk that Elba could succeed Craig as 007.

Speculation had centred on Life on Mars and Whitechapel director, SJ Clarkson, who has been chosen to direct the next instalment in the Star Trek franchise; and Yann Demange, the helmer of new release White Boy Rick.

Demange had been considered a strong contender during the first round before the job went, temporarily, to Boyle.

-AAP