Sam Mendes Confirms He Won't Direct The Next James Bond Movie

“It feels like there’s a rightness to it, that I have finished a journey,” director Sam Mendes said last year about his future with James Bond, during press rounds for “Spectre.” And indeed, if there was any doubt that Mendes is moving on after back-to-back James Bond pictures, the filmmaker has now made it clear that his days with 007 are done.

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Chatting with Associated Press, Mendes confirmed he won’t be directing any more movies in the franchise. “It was an incredible adventure, I loved every second of it. But I think it’s time for somebody else,” he said.

So what’s next for the director in the movie world? This spring he signed up to helm the Steven Spielberg-produced adaptation of Gay Talese‘s upcoming, non-fiction book “The Voyeur’s Motel,” so I’d wager his focus is on that.

And while Mendes was lured back to direct “Spectre” after “Skyfall,” thanks to Daniel Craig persuading him to return, the filmmaker makes it clear that just because he’s not coming back, doesn’t mean the actor is out of the mix. So don’t expect the swirl of rumors about who will next ask for their martinis shaken, not stirred, to end anytime soon. However, it does mean that the directing job for the next Bond movie is open. Any suggestions (besides Christopher Nolan — get real people, it’s not going to happen)? Let us know in the comments section.