diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 89b92f261..65746d579 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -345,6 +345,21 @@ version = "3.0.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "06821ea598337a8412cf47c5b71c3bc694a7f0aed188ac28b836fab164a2c202"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "console"
+version = "0.15.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a28b32d32ca44b70c3e4acd7db1babf555fa026e385fb95f18028f88848b3c31"
+dependencies = [
+ "encode_unicode",
+ "libc",
+ "once_cell",
+ "regex",
+ "terminal_size",
+ "unicode-width",
+ "winapi",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "core-foundation"
 version = "0.9.2"
@@ -410,6 +425,18 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "dialoguer"
+version = "0.9.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "61579ada4ec0c6031cfac3f86fdba0d195a7ebeb5e36693bd53cb5999a25beeb"
+dependencies = [
+ "console",
+ "lazy_static",
+ "tempfile",
+ "zeroize",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "digest"
 version = "0.9.0"
@@ -439,6 +466,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "winapi",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "encode_unicode"
+version = "0.3.6"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a357d28ed41a50f9c765dbfe56cbc04a64e53e5fc58ba79fbc34c10ef3df831f"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "encoding_rs"
 version = "0.8.29"
@@ -1005,6 +1038,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "cargo_metadata",
  "cbindgen",
  "configparser",
+ "console",
+ "dialoguer",
  "dirs",
  "fat-macho",
  "flate2",
@@ -1015,6 +1050,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "ignore",
  "indoc",
  "keyring",
+ "minijinja",
  "once_cell",
  "platform-info",
  "pretty_env_logger",
@@ -1059,6 +1095,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "unicase",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "minijinja"
+version = "0.8.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1c8de52c925a3f40bd30cb2041440eb3d11658b9a2b8564c1d66fba41c890dc6"
+dependencies = [
+ "serde",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "miniz_oxide"
 version = "0.4.4"
@@ -1885,6 +1930,16 @@ dependencies = [
  "winapi-util",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "terminal_size"
+version = "0.1.17"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "633c1a546cee861a1a6d0dc69ebeca693bf4296661ba7852b9d21d159e0506df"
+dependencies = [
+ "libc",
+ "winapi",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "textwrap"
 version = "0.11.0"
@@ -2370,6 +2425,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "syn",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "zeroize"
+version = "1.4.3"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d68d9dcec5f9b43a30d38c49f91dfedfaac384cb8f085faca366c26207dd1619"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "zip"
 version = "0.5.13"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 4ac63866a..35a50b5af 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ pyproject-toml = "0.3.0"
 python-pkginfo = "0.5.0"
 textwrap = "0.14.2"
 ignore = "0.4.18"
+dialoguer = "0.9.0"
+console = "0.15.0"
+minijinja = "0.8.2"
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 indoc = "1.0.3"
diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index 6f7263459..dbd531f35 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 * Add support for excluding files from wheels by `.gitignore` in [#695](https://github.com/PyO3/maturin/pull/695)
 * Fix `pip install maturin` on OpenBSD 6.8 in [#697](https://github.com/PyO3/maturin/pull/697)
 * Add support for x86, x86_64 and aarch64 on NetBSD in [#704](https://github.com/PyO3/maturin/pull/704)
+* Add a `maturin new` command for bootstrapping new projects in [#705](https://github.com/PyO3/maturin/pull/705)
 
 ## [0.12.1] - 2021-11-21
 
diff --git a/hello/.gitignore b/hello/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c8f044299
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hello/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+/target
+
+# Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
+__pycache__/
+.pytest_cache/
+*.py[cod]
+
+# C extensions
+*.so
+
+# Distribution / packaging
+.Python
+.venv/
+env/
+bin/
+build/
+develop-eggs/
+dist/
+eggs/
+lib/
+lib64/
+parts/
+sdist/
+var/
+include/
+man/
+venv/
+*.egg-info/
+.installed.cfg
+*.egg
+
+# Installer logs
+pip-log.txt
+pip-delete-this-directory.txt
+pip-selfcheck.json
+
+# Unit test / coverage reports
+htmlcov/
+.tox/
+.coverage
+.cache
+nosetests.xml
+coverage.xml
+
+# Translations
+*.mo
+
+# Mr Developer
+.mr.developer.cfg
+.project
+.pydevproject
+
+# Rope
+.ropeproject
+
+# Django stuff:
+*.log
+*.pot
+
+.DS_Store
+
+# Sphinx documentation
+docs/_build/
+
+# PyCharm
+.idea/
+
+# VSCode
+.vscode/
+
+# Pyenv
+.python-version
diff --git a/hello/Cargo.toml b/hello/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..28b5735a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hello/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+[package]
+name = "hello"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2018"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+[lib]
+name = "hello"
+crate-type = ["cdylib"]
+
+[dependencies]
+pyo3 = { version = "0.15.1", features = ["extension-module"] }
diff --git a/hello/pyproject.toml b/hello/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d99236fde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hello/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["maturin>=0.12,<0.13"]
+build-backend = "maturin"
+
+[project]
+name = "hello"
+requires-python = ">=3.6"
+classifiers = [
+    "Programming Language :: Rust",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPython",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPy",
+]
+
+
diff --git a/hello/src/lib.rs b/hello/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..43c6abb9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hello/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+
+use pyo3::prelude::*;
+
+#[pymodule]
+fn hello(_py: Python, m: &PyModule) -> PyResult<()> {
+    Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 7f0b5d7d9..f485ea570 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -19,3 +19,7 @@ bindings = "bin"
 
 [tool.black]
 target_version = ['py36']
+extend-exclude = '''
+# Ignore cargo-generate templates
+^/src/templates
+'''
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index aa5e7bc75..0fe93f2ab 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ pub use crate::metadata::{Metadata21, WheelMetadata};
 pub use crate::module_writer::{
     write_dist_info, ModuleWriter, PathWriter, SDistWriter, WheelWriter,
 };
+pub use crate::new_project::new_project;
 pub use crate::pyproject_toml::PyProjectToml;
 pub use crate::python_interpreter::PythonInterpreter;
 pub use crate::target::Target;
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ mod cross_compile;
 mod develop;
 mod metadata;
 mod module_writer;
+mod new_project;
 mod pyproject_toml;
 mod python_interpreter;
 #[cfg(feature = "upload")]
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 105ea35ba..6e5ca2d0e 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ use human_panic::setup_panic;
 #[cfg(feature = "password-storage")]
 use keyring::{Keyring, KeyringError};
 use maturin::{
-    develop, source_distribution, write_dist_info, BridgeModel, BuildOptions, CargoToml,
-    Metadata21, PathWriter, PlatformTag, PyProjectToml, PythonInterpreter, Target,
+    develop, new_project, source_distribution, write_dist_info, BridgeModel, BuildOptions,
+    CargoToml, Metadata21, PathWriter, PlatformTag, PyProjectToml, PythonInterpreter, Target,
 };
 use std::env;
 use std::io;
@@ -270,6 +270,19 @@ enum Opt {
         #[structopt(short, long, parse(from_os_str))]
         out: Option<PathBuf>,
     },
+    /// Create a new cargo project
+    #[structopt(name = "new")]
+    NewProject {
+        /// Project name
+        #[structopt()]
+        name: String,
+        /// Use mixed Rust/Python project layout?
+        #[structopt(long)]
+        mixed: bool,
+        /// Which kind of bindings to use. Possible values are pyo3, rust-cpython, cffi and bin
+        #[structopt(short, long, possible_values = &["pyo3", "rust-cpython", "cffi", "bin"])]
+        bindings: Option<String>,
+    },
     /// Uploads python packages to pypi
     ///
     /// It is mostly similar to `twine upload`, but can only upload python wheels
@@ -621,6 +634,11 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
             .context("Failed to build source distribution")?;
         }
         Opt::Pep517(subcommand) => pep517(subcommand)?,
+        Opt::NewProject {
+            name,
+            mixed,
+            bindings,
+        } => new_project(name, mixed, bindings)?,
         #[cfg(feature = "upload")]
         Opt::Upload { publish, files } => {
             if files.is_empty() {
diff --git a/src/new_project.rs b/src/new_project.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..06054b72d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/new_project.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+use anyhow::{bail, Result};
+use console::style;
+use dialoguer::{theme::ColorfulTheme, Select};
+use fs_err as fs;
+use minijinja::{context, Environment};
+use std::path::Path;
+
+struct ProjectGenerator<'a> {
+    env: Environment<'a>,
+    project_name: String,
+    crate_name: String,
+    bindings: String,
+    mixed: bool,
+}
+
+impl<'a> ProjectGenerator<'a> {
+    fn new(project_name: String, mixed: bool, bindings: String) -> Result<Self> {
+        let crate_name = project_name.replace('-', "_");
+        let mut env = Environment::new();
+        env.add_template(".gitignore", include_str!("templates/.gitignore"))?;
+        env.add_template("Cargo.toml", include_str!("templates/Cargo.toml"))?;
+        env.add_template("pyproject.toml", include_str!("templates/pyproject.toml"))?;
+        env.add_template("lib.rs", include_str!("templates/lib.rs"))?;
+        env.add_template("main.rs", include_str!("templates/main.rs"))?;
+        env.add_template("__init__.py", include_str!("templates/__init__.py"))?;
+        Ok(Self {
+            env,
+            project_name,
+            crate_name,
+            bindings,
+            mixed,
+        })
+    }
+
+    fn generate(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        let project_path = Path::new(&self.project_name);
+        if project_path.exists() {
+            bail!("destination `{}` already exists", project_path.display());
+        }
+
+        let src_path = project_path.join("src");
+        fs::create_dir_all(&src_path)?;
+
+        let gitignore = self.render_template(".gitignore")?;
+        fs::write(project_path.join(".gitignore"), gitignore)?;
+
+        let cargo_toml = self.render_template("Cargo.toml")?;
+        fs::write(project_path.join("Cargo.toml"), cargo_toml)?;
+
+        let pyproject_toml = self.render_template("pyproject.toml")?;
+        fs::write(project_path.join("pyproject.toml"), pyproject_toml)?;
+
+        if self.bindings == "bin" {
+            let main_rs = self.render_template("main.rs")?;
+            fs::write(src_path.join("main.rs"), main_rs)?;
+        } else {
+            let lib_rs = self.render_template("lib.rs")?;
+            fs::write(src_path.join("lib.rs"), lib_rs)?;
+        }
+
+        if self.mixed {
+            let py_path = project_path.join(&self.crate_name);
+            fs::create_dir_all(&py_path)?;
+            let init_py = self.render_template("__init__.py")?;
+            fs::write(py_path.join("__init__.py"), init_py)?;
+        }
+
+        println!(
+            "  ✨ {} {} {}",
+            style("Done!").bold().green(),
+            style("New project created").bold(),
+            style(&project_path.display()).underlined()
+        );
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn render_template(&self, tmpl_name: &str) -> Result<String> {
+        let tmpl = self.env.get_template(tmpl_name)?;
+        let out =
+            tmpl.render(context!(name => self.project_name, crate_name => self.crate_name, bindings => self.bindings))?;
+        Ok(out)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Generate a new cargo project
+pub fn new_project(name: String, mixed: bool, bindings: Option<String>) -> Result<()> {
+    let bindings_items = if mixed {
+        vec!["pyo3", "rust-cpython", "cffi"]
+    } else {
+        vec!["pyo3", "rust-cpython", "cffi", "bin"]
+    };
+    let bindings = if let Some(bindings) = bindings {
+        bindings
+    } else {
+        let selection = Select::with_theme(&ColorfulTheme::default())
+            .with_prompt(format!(
+                "🤷 {}",
+                style("What kind of bindings to use?").bold()
+            ))
+            .items(&bindings_items)
+            .default(0)
+            .interact()?;
+        bindings_items[selection].to_string()
+    };
+
+    let generator = ProjectGenerator::new(name, mixed, bindings)?;
+    generator.generate()
+}
diff --git a/src/templates/.gitignore b/src/templates/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c8f044299
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+/target
+
+# Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
+__pycache__/
+.pytest_cache/
+*.py[cod]
+
+# C extensions
+*.so
+
+# Distribution / packaging
+.Python
+.venv/
+env/
+bin/
+build/
+develop-eggs/
+dist/
+eggs/
+lib/
+lib64/
+parts/
+sdist/
+var/
+include/
+man/
+venv/
+*.egg-info/
+.installed.cfg
+*.egg
+
+# Installer logs
+pip-log.txt
+pip-delete-this-directory.txt
+pip-selfcheck.json
+
+# Unit test / coverage reports
+htmlcov/
+.tox/
+.coverage
+.cache
+nosetests.xml
+coverage.xml
+
+# Translations
+*.mo
+
+# Mr Developer
+.mr.developer.cfg
+.project
+.pydevproject
+
+# Rope
+.ropeproject
+
+# Django stuff:
+*.log
+*.pot
+
+.DS_Store
+
+# Sphinx documentation
+docs/_build/
+
+# PyCharm
+.idea/
+
+# VSCode
+.vscode/
+
+# Pyenv
+.python-version
diff --git a/src/templates/Cargo.toml b/src/templates/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e9e632382
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+[package]
+name = "{{ name }}"
+version = "0.1.0"
+edition = "2018"
+
+# See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
+
+{%- if bindings != "bin" -%}
+[lib]
+name = "{{ crate_name }}"
+crate-type = ["cdylib"]
+{%- endif -%}
+
+[dependencies]
+{%- if bindings == "pyo3" -%}
+pyo3 = { version = "0.15.1", features = ["extension-module"] }
+{%- elif bindings == "rust-cpython" -%}
+cpython = { version = "0.7.0", features = ["extension-module"] }
+{%- endif -%}
diff --git a/src/templates/__init__.py b/src/templates/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..145182845
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+from .{{ crate_name }} import *
+
+
+__doc__ = {{ crate_name }}.__doc__
diff --git a/src/templates/lib.rs b/src/templates/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7b5521b36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{%- if bindings == "pyo3" -%}
+use pyo3::prelude::*;
+
+#[pymodule]
+fn {{crate_name}}(_py: Python, m: &PyModule) -> PyResult<()> {
+    Ok(())
+}
+{%- elif bindings == "rust-cpython" -%}
+use cpython::py_module_initializer;
+
+py_module_initializer!({{crate_name}}, |py, m| {
+    m.add(py, "__doc__", "Module documentation string")?;
+    Ok(())
+});
+{%- endif %}
diff --git a/src/templates/main.rs b/src/templates/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e7a11a969
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+fn main() {
+    println!("Hello, world!");
+}
diff --git a/src/templates/pyproject.toml b/src/templates/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..51639b3f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/templates/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["maturin>=0.12,<0.13"]
+build-backend = "maturin"
+
+[project]
+name = "{{ name }}"
+requires-python = ">=3.6"
+classifiers = [
+    "Programming Language :: Rust",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPython",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPy",
+]
+{% if bindings == "cffi" -%}
+dependencies = ["cffi"]
+{%- endif -%}
+{% if bindings == "cffi" or bindings == "bin" -%}
+[tool.maturin]
+bindings = "{{ bindings }}"
+{%- endif -%}