Sam Mendes Declines Offer To Direct Next James Bond Film

Sam Mendes has turned down the offer to helm what will be the twenty-fourth movie in the James Bond franchise, despite the great reception he garnered for his work on Skyfall.

“It has been a very difficult decision not to accept Michael [G. Wilson] and Barbara [Broccoli]’s very generous offer to direct the next Bond movie,” Mendes told Empire magazine. “Directing Skyfall was one of the best experiences of my professional life, but I have theater and other commitments, including productions of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and King Lear, that need my complete focus over the next year and beyond.”

Although Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) is going to be tied up for the next year or so in his other projects, he hasn’t ruled out coming back to the franchise at a later point in time. “I feel very honoured to have been part of the Bond family,” said Mendes, “and very much hope I have a chance to work with them again sometime in the future.”

Skyfall had the greatest commercial success of all 23 Bond films made thus far, earning roughly $1.1 billion worldwide to date. It also received a BAFTA award for best British film.

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