German-born Forster, whose 2001 film Monster's Ball won an Academy Award for actress Halle Berry, will direct Daniel Craig in the film, due out in 2008.
It will be based on a script developed by Forster and Crash director Paul Haggis - one of the writers behind last year's hit Bond outing Casino Royale.
"I have also always been a Bond fan, so it is very exciting to take on this challenge," said Forster.
"I have always been drawn to different kinds of stories," said the 37-year-old film-maker, who recently completed work on the The Kite Runner, an adaptation of the best-selling novel.
'New possibilities'
The Kite Runner will be released in the US at the end of the year, and is expected to receive Oscar attention.
"We are delighted that Marc Forster, with his exceptional talent and unique vision, has agreed to direct our next James Bond film," said producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli.
It had been suggested that Martin Campbell would return to direct the 2008 adventure, following the success of Casino Royale, which became the most successful Bond film to date.
Campbell worked on both Casino Royale and 1995's GoldenEye, overseeing the debut of both Pierce Brosnan and Craig in the role of 007.
"The new direction that the Bond character has taken offers a director a host of new possibilities and I look forward to working with Daniel Craig," said Forster.
Bond 22 will begin filming at Pinewood Studios in London in December, based on a screenplay drafted by Neil Purvis and Robert Wade.