Sam Mendes in negotiations to direct Bond 24 after all

http://www.deadline.com/2013/05/sam-mendes-back-in-the-picture-to-direct-next-james-bond-film/

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EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures and MGM have started talks for Sam Mendes to return and direct Daniel Craig in the next installment of the James Bond franchise. Mendes helmed the last installment, Skyfall, an audience-pleasing film that grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide to become the biggest Bond film and the eighth-highest-grossing film of all time. John Logan is writing the next film.

There has been much speculation on whether Mendes would come back — right now he’s knee-deep preparing for the West End launch of the stage musical Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, which will then move to Broadway. That happened because Mendes bowed out, claiming that musical and King Lear were his new priorities and producers Michael Wilson and Barbra Broccoli seemed resigned and they moved on. Recently, he and the producers got back in touch. While Mendes’ first love is theater, it became clear that the producers wanted him and he wanted to return, and the only thing standing in the way were these stage commitments that Mendes felt obligated to do. So, they’ve decided to wait for him to work through those other commitments, and he’s now making a deal to start production probably next year. What’s the hurry? Craig doesn’t seem to have aged since he took the Bond role; he’s always in rocking shape. While Mendes looked doubtful, a bunch of names have been floated in the press, from Ang Lee to Nicolas Winding Refn and Christopher Nolan. I’m not sure there is much validity to any of them, but now it is a moot point, because Mendes will be the director of the next Bond. A Mendes return should tickle the 007 crowd. Like Craig’s first outing Casino Royale, Skyfall scratched beneath the stone killer/lover Bond facade with an intelligent spy story that provided a sense of how the agent became that cold ruthless agent. Audiences responded in both cases. Neither MGM nor Sony would comment.

No surprise. Seems EON is willing to bag Mendes even if it means a later release date. Rumors elsewhere have slated Bond 24 for a release date closer to 2016, but if production is due to start next year with Mendes on board, 2015 looks more likely.

Given how well SKYFALL did, I can't blame anyone for trying to recapture that by bringing back the folks that made it possible. I hope that if Mendes does return that he wants to return for his own reasons and not for being pressured into it or offered a pet project as a bargain.

I like Mendes, though I had problems with Skyfall. Having said that, I think it's foolish to put Bond on hold for another four years just to wait for him to get his theatre commitments finished. The franchise has always been bigger than the director. Sign him for 25 and get the ball rolling on 24.

Where does it say they'll wait til 2016? Sounds more like they're aiming for a 2015 release.

Python wrote:

Where does it say they'll wait til 2016? Sounds more like they're aiming for a 2015 release.

http://screenrant.com/james-bond-24-skyfall-sequel-release-date-director/

Now, however, it looks like 2015 is the better bet.

If they wait, his fee would be bigger, because his agents would undoubtedly cash in on the fact that he made the biggest Bond picture (financially), and that the producers seem to only have him in mind to direct the next film.

Interesting how they said Daniel Craig doesn't seem to have aged. What bullshit! He looks older than Brosnan did in GE, and Brosnan was older!

The best man won.

This is a welcome development.

Jack Wade wrote:

While Mendes looked doubtful, a bunch of names have been floated in the press, from Ang Lee to Nicolas Winding Refn and Christopher Nolan. I’m not sure there is much validity to any of them, but now it is a moot point, because Mendes will be the director of the next Bond.

I'd take any of those guys over Mendes. Especially Lee.

Jack Wade wrote:

A Mendes return should tickle the 007 crowd.

This particular member of the 007 crowd isn't tickled at all.

FieldsMan wrote:

Interesting how they said Daniel Craig doesn't seem to have aged. What bullshit! He looks older than Brosnan did in GE, and Brosnan was older!

Which is kind of fine. Brosnan's Bond was actually in his 30s, despite Brosnan being older but that worked fine because of his youthful appearance. Craig's Bond however is actually in his 40s, so he technically is supposed to be older than Brosnan Bond.

Oh, now that's a turn-up for the book. Some directorial consistency in the James Bond films would be most welcome.

Dragonpol wrote:

Oh, now that's a turn-up for the book. Some directorial consistency in the James Bond films would be most welcome.

Exactly. It's been 24 years since consecutive Bond films were directed by the same guy!

I guess at this stage, a release in 17-18 months is logistically impossible. Mendes plus a 2015 release sound great to me.

I'm glad Mendes is coming back.

But I'm so sad it means David Arnold won't make the score :(

I liked Skyfall, so I suppose this is OK news (if true). Shame the big gaps between films are becoming the rule, not the exception, though.

GeneralGogol wrote:

Dragonpol wrote:

Oh, now that's a turn-up for the book. Some directorial consistency in the James Bond films would be most welcome.

Exactly. It's been 24 years since consecutive Bond films were directed by the same guy!

Yes, I'm pleased to have a returning director, especially for consecutive films.

I just wish that a director other than Mendes were doing the returning.

Just because Mendes is returning, that doesn't mean Bond 24 will be SKYFALL 2.0. I've said it before, but I think this next one will swing in the opposite direction and deliver what SF's final scene promised.

Good news - I know the longer gaps are irksome but I'd much rather see the right man behind the camera (with a stylistically consistent approach) and a script be properly developed than just have Bond conform to some arbitrary and commercially led schedule with shorter gaps etc.

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Just because Mendes is returning, that doesn't mean Bond 24 will be SKYFALL 2.0. I've said it before, but I think this next one will swing in the opposite direction and deliver what SF's final scene promised.

That would be even better news, though I fear the need for an overtly introverted and angsty protagonist might still derail such ambition.

Largo's Shark wrote:

Just because Mendes is returning, that doesn't mean Bond 24 will be SKYFALL 2.0.

True, but SKYFALL 2.0 can't be ruled out, either. It hardly seems impossible that BOND 24 will continue in similar thematic, dramatic and stylistic veins to SKYFALL (with or without Mendes, I guess).

Largo's Shark wrote:

I think this next one will swing in the opposite direction and deliver what SF's final scene promised.

What did SKYFALL's final scene promise? A good old-fashioned fun romp of a Bond flick without any angst, heavygoing drama or personal elements? If only.

Loomis wrote:

What did SKYFALL's final scene promise? A good old-fashioned fun romp of a Bond flick without any angst, heavygoing drama or personal elements?

Exactly that.

I doubt Mendes will attempt a SKYFALL 2.0. He's smart enough to know he can't pull off the same thing twice.

Largo's Shark wrote:

Loomis wrote:

What did SKYFALL's final scene promise? A good old-fashioned fun romp of a Bond flick without any angst, heavygoing drama or personal elements?

Exactly that.

I'll be surprised if that's what we end up getting. In any case, wouldn't someone like Roger Spottiswoode or Lee Tamahori be a more natural choice than Mendes for such a film? Why the need for a relatively heavyweight director for a lightweight bit of escapism?

Well, Mendes did deliver the most stylish Bond film in decades. So there's that.

Loomis wrote:

Largo's Shark wrote:

Loomis wrote:

What did SKYFALL's final scene promise? A good old-fashioned fun romp of a Bond flick without any angst, heavygoing drama or personal elements?

Exactly that.

I'll be surprised if that's what we end up getting. In any case, wouldn't someone like Roger Spottiswoode or Lee Tamahori be a more natural choice than Mendes for such a film? Why the need for a relatively heavyweight director for a lightweight bit of escapism?

Because:

a) Miccoli and Craig have a good relationship with Mendes. He's becoming part of the EON family.

b) They know he's versatile and can handle relatively lightweight escapism (and shown by some of SKYFALL's sequences such as the casino fight and the London underground malarkey), and is not a one-trick pony like Chris Nolan.

c) He's learnt a lot from SKYFALL, so he can build on that. He'll want to improve on its weaknesses.

Harmsway wrote:

Well, Mendes did deliver the most stylish Bond film in decades. So there's that.

Arguably the best Bond film in 25 years.

For what it's worth, I do have reservations about Mendes returning. He said in interviews that he would like to see the next film explore the new MI6 family. I don't find that idea particularly appealing, since I found the "new MI6 family" aspect of SKYFALL to be pretty weak.

Still, if only because he seems to have a very good handle on the Bond character, I'd like to see what he would do with another film.