Sam Mendes Confirms That He Won't Direct "James Bond" 24


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Sam Mendes has confirmed that he will not return to direct Bond 24.

The Oscar-winning American Beauty filmmaker, whose recent Bond instalment Skyfall is the most successful in the franchise's history, revealed that he turned down an offer from producers Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli to come back to the series in order to concentrate on his upcoming theatre projects.

"It has been a very difficult decision not to accept Michael and Barbara's very generous offer to direct the next Bond movie," Mendes told Empire.

"Directing Skyfall was one of the best experiences of my professional life, but I have theatre and other commitments, including productions of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and King Lear, that need my complete focus over the next year and beyond."

He continued: "I feel very honoured to have been part of the Bond family and very much hope I have a chance to work with them again sometime in the future."

Broccoli and Wilson added of Mendes's decision to decline their offer: "We thoroughly enjoyed working with Sam, he directed our most successful Bond movie ever, Skyfall.

"We would have loved to have made the next film with him but completely respect his decision to focus on other projects and hope to have the opportunity to collaborate with him again."

Previous rumours had claimed that Mendes was 75% certain to return to the director's chair.

Skyfall screenwriter John Logan is currently working on a script for Bond 24, with Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw and Ralph Fiennes all due to return.

http://www.digitalsp...t-decision.html

I'm quite glad for this. I, along with a few people I've talked to, thought Skyfall was probably the worst Bond movie ever. I understand it's a reboot of the franchise, but I think it's lost almost everything that made Bond... well, Bond.

Hopefully another director will rectify the situation.

I'm quite glad for this. I, along with a few people I've talked to, thought Skyfall was probably the worst Bond movie ever. I understand it's a reboot of the franchise, but I think it's lost almost everything that made Bond... well, Bond.

Hopefully another director will rectify the situation.

Visually it was brilliant but I agree - the film was a let down for me. I still think Casino Royale was vastly superior if focussing purely on the Daniel Craig Bond movies.

I'm quite glad for this. I, along with a few people I've talked to, thought Skyfall was probably the worst Bond movie ever. I understand it's a reboot of the franchise, but I think it's lost almost everything that made Bond... well, Bond.

Hopefully another director will rectify the situation.

Why does everyone think it's a reboot of the franchise? Surely if it was a reboot it would star a whole different cast?

Why does everyone think it's a reboot of the franchise? Surely if it was a reboot it would star a whole different cast?

Because they have even said it was a reboot. Don't remember the exact source, but that was what they were going for. Why do you think what happens here has so little to do with the original Bond timeline. How could Dench play M at 2 different points in time, as well as many more other things.

I'm quite glad for this. I, along with a few people I've talked to, thought Skyfall was probably the worst Bond movie ever. I understand it's a reboot of the franchise, but I think it's lost almost everything that made Bond... well, Bond.

Hopefully another director will rectify the situation.

I agree. I was very disappoint in Skyfall. It seemed very far away from a Bond film.

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