It seems that the Sam Mendes/Bond 24 saga is now over as finally, the director has been confirmed to be returning to helm the next instalment in the franchise.
This comes after much back and forth, with the director first saying that there is no chance he’ll return followed by an unofficial short list of replacement directors being leaked, then unofficial confirmation that Mendes would return and then news that he wasn’t actually confirmed. Today though, it’s final and Sam Mendes will indeed direct Bond 24.
Honestly, at this point, I don’t even care who directs the film. I want to say I’m excited to see Mendes return but after all the back and forth, I kind of stopped caring who would direct. It got to the point where I just wanted them to name a director, it didn’t matter who it was.
No word on why Mendes changed his mind but you can bet that a hefty paycheque had something to do with it. Oh how I would love to know the number that got him to agree to come back, as he was quite adamant on not returning.
Regardless of the reason for all the back and forth, Sam Mendes is returning to the director’s seat and seeing as Skyfall was the best entry in the franchise, this is definitely good news for Bond fans everywhere.
Check out the full press release below and let us know if you’re excited to see Sam Mendes returning to direct Bond 24.
SAM MENDES RETURNS TO DIRECT BOND 24
Director’s Follow-Up to SKYFALL™, the Highest-Grossing Film in the Longest Running Film Franchise, to Arrive in Theaters on October 23, 2015 in the UK and November 6, 2015 in the US
CULVER CITY, Calif., July 11, 2013 – Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, EON Productions; Gary Barber, Chairman & CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Entertainment, Inc, and Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that Daniel Craig will once again return as the legendary British secret agent in the 24th James Bond film and Sam Mendes will also return to direct the screenplay written by John Logan. The film is set for release in UK theaters on October 23, 2015 and in US theaters on November 6, 2015.
SKYFALL™, the 23rd James Bond film, took in $1.1 billion worldwide and set a new mark as the highest-grossing film of all time in the UK; it was the best-selling Bond film on DVD/Blu-ray and was the most critically acclaimed film in the history of the longest-running film franchise.
Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said, “Following the extraordinary success of SKYFALL, we’re really excited to be working once again with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and John Logan.”
“I am very pleased that by giving me the time I need to honour all my theatre commitments, the producers have made it possible for me to direct Bond 24. I very much look forward to taking up the reins again, and to working with Daniel Craig, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli for a second time,” said Mendes.
Barber added, “We are thrilled to reunite the extraordinary talents of director Sam Mendes with our star Daniel Craig for the next great Bond adventure.” He added, “As evidenced by the phenomenal success of our last collaboration with EON Productions and Sony, the incredible legacy of this 51-year-old franchise continues to amaze.”
Lynton and Pascal said, “It’s a privilege to work on the Bond films. EON, John Logan and Sam Mendes have come up with an extraordinary follow up to SKYFALL and we, along with our partners at MGM, can’t wait to share this new chapter with audiences all over the world.”
