James Bond has found a new home, and a new director.

"Bond 25" has finally confirmed Danny Boyle for director, with Universal Pictures set to distribute the 2019 release internationally, reports Deadline. The film starts shooting December 3, 2018.

MGM, through its distribution deal with Annapurna, will handle domestic distribution for the hotly-anticipated sequel. Daniel Craig's next Bond film -- rumored to be his last -- will be the first 007 adventure since "Die Another Day" 16 years ago to kick off with the MGM logo. (Craig's four previous Bond adventures were released by Sony.)

Boyle was one of several directors in the running in recent months, and he has been the obvious frontrunner leading up to tonight's confirmation. So how did he get the job?

"MGM and Danjaq weighed several directors," according to Deadline, "but then Boyle had his great idea and said he would direct, only if his concept was the one they went with." He had his "Trainspotting" partner, John Hodge, write a script that seems to have pleased everybody.

Several studios (minus Disney) have been chasing down the rights to distribute the next entry in the lucrative franchise since Sony's deal expired with 2015's "Spectre." Paramount, Warner Bros., and even Sony were jockeying for the gig, but Universal ultimately won out.

As Deadline reports: "While the distribution fee is expected to be on the modest side, landing the James Bond franchise is an enormous 'get' for Universal and [parent company] Comcast. It is among the biggest global franchises and comes at a time when those are more prized than ever, and when scale is everything. It is also important because international is where 007 traditionally earns most of its grosses."

Long-standing Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in a statement: "We are delighted to announce that the exceptionally talented Danny Boyle will be directing Daniel Craig in his fifth outing as James Bond, in the 25th installment of the franchise. We will begin shooting 'Bond 25' at Pinewood Studios in December, with our partners at MGM, and [are] thrilled that Universal will be our international distributor."

Story details are (pun so intended) for your eyes only, but fans will see for themselves when the untitled Bond movie hits U.S. theaters November 8, 2019.