For fucks sakes, finally. After declaring the prospect of directing a “Skyfall” follow-up as making him “physically ill,” and then being reported as “likely” returning and possibly even directing two movies in the franchise, Sam Mendes scuttled all of that last month by saying he was still thinking about it. Though, we’d guess part of that was code for, “I just made the first Bond movie to cross $1 billion worldwide, so my agent is making sure I get real paid for this next movie, or fuck this.” Well, whatever happened, it’s now for real.
Sony has formally announced Mendes will direct the yet-to-be-titled “Bond 24,” with Daniel Craig returning in the lead (DUH). It appears Mendes wanted time to work on this stage productions, and he’s happy this all worked out. “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,” he said spontaneously in a statement.
Official release dates have been set too with the U.K. once again getting it first, with “Skyfall 2: Let’s Start Guessing Who’s Doing The Theme Song” landing overseas on October 23, 2015 with the U.S. following on November 6, 2015. Start lining up now?
