In an official press release issued to the media on 11 July, 2013, EON Productions and MGM/SONY have confirmed that Sam Mendes, the director of Skyfall, will return for James Bond adventure no. 24.
The press release also stated that the new movie, with a screenplay by veteran screenwriter John Logan and starring Daniel Craig as 007 for the fourth time, will go on general release in late 2015.
The James Bond producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said in the press release: ‘Following the extraordinary success of SKYFALL, we’re really excited to be working once again with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and John Logan’.
In addition, Sam Mendes was quoted as saying: ‘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’.
Gary Barber, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MGM, also commented: ‘We are thrilled to reunite the extraordinary talents of director Sam Mendes with our star Daniel Craig for the next great Bond adventure’.
The press release also revealed that the new film is set for release in the UK on October 23, 2015, and in the US on November 6, 2015.
As many Bond fans know, shortly after Skyfall, Mendes ruled himself out from Bond 24, saying he felt he could not give it sufficient time and energy due to his theatre commitments. Then, as we reported in May, some dramatic rumours emerged that the director was back in discussions with the EON producers, and that they were prepared to be much more flexible over scheduling in order to secure his services again. The negotiations have clearly been successful.
In the meantime, following the recent opening of his long-cherished theatre production of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Mendes will follow this by directing another play which is very close to his heart: a new production of Shakespeare’s King Lear, which will run at the National Theatre in central London in January, 2014.