James Bond to move on without director Sam Mendes, ‘time for somebody else’
The James Bond franchise appears to be set for a major overhaul with Daniel Craig moving on to other projects and now director Sam Mendes saying that “someone else” should get their shot.
“It was an incredible adventure, I loved every second of it,” the American Beauty Oscar-winner said while attending the Hay festival in Wales. “But I think it’s time for somebody else.”
Who will be the next Bond?
Mendes, who helmed two back to back Bond flicks, 2012’s Skyfall and 2015’s Spectre, that collectively earned nearly two billion dollars, has confirmed, as he indicated to Deadline late last year, that he’s done with the 007 franchise.
“There is a sense of completeness that wasn’t there at the end of Skyfall, and that’s what makes this feel different. It feels like there’s a rightness to it, that I have finished a journey,” Medes said at the time.
When asked if he’d return if Daniel Craig did, he was more direct. “I’ll probably be doing something else… What is important is, not doing it is not a negative. It’s not me saying, “I don’t want to do this.” What it would be is me saying, “I really want to do this story.” There are other stories to tell.”
Mendes echoed similar thoughts in Wales. “I’m a storyteller,” he said. “And at the end of the day, I want to make stories with new characters.”
Bond 25 was set to come to theaters as the studio wanted to move quickly and get Craig and Mendes teamed up once again. Now all bets are off and the studio will be drafting a new 007.
Among the names mentioned are Idris Elba, Tom Hiddleston, Mad Max Fury Road star Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender and Henry Cavill.
Bond girls
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[…] Director Sam Mendes, who helmed Skyfall and Spectre, won’t return to the franchise. […]