Sam Mendes To Direct Daniel Craig's 4th Film as 007

[JamesG]

TOLDJA!: Sam Mendes To Direct Bond 24
by THE DEADLINE TEAM
Thursday July 11, 2013


Deadline reported in May that Sony Pictures and MGM were in talks for Skyfall helmer Sam Mendes to return behind the camera for the next installment of the James Bond franchise. The studios, along with producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, today confirmed Mendes will direct, with Daniel Craig reprising his role as Bond for the fourth time.

John Logan is writing the next, as-yet untitled movie, which will bow in the UK on October 23, 2015 and in the U.S. on November 6, 2015.





Here’s today’s official release:

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.”

http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/sam-...irect-bond-24/

[Vahan]

On the subject of the next Bond film, I read that Penélope Cruz was rumored to play a Bond girl in it.

It didn't happen of course, but if it did, she would have surpassed Honor Blackman (Pu$$y Galore from 1964's Goldfinger) as the oldest actress as Bond Girl.