Sam Mendes And Daniel Craig Are Coming Back For BOND 24
Sony Pictures and MGM reportedly started talks back in May with director Sam Mendes to return to the helm for the next Bond film following the explosive success of the third feature of the franchise, Skyfall. The report came two months after the filmmaker stated he was not staying on board due to his other commitments.
“It has been a very difficult decision not to accept Michael [Wilson] and Barbara [Broccoli’s] very generous offer to direct the next Bond movie,” he said. “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.”
He also expressed optimism to return to the franchise, adding “I feel very honored to have been part of the Bond family”, the director said, “and very much hope I have a chance to work with them again sometime in the future.”.
CULVER CITY, Calif., July 11, 2013 – Producers Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, EON Productions; Gary Barber, Chairman & CEO, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Michael Lynton, CEO, Sony Entertainment, Inc, and Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment today announced that Daniel Craig will once again return as the legendary British secret agent in the 24th James Bond film and Sam Mendes will also return to direct the screenplay written by John Logan. The film is set for release in UK theaters on October 23, 2015 and in US theaters on November 6, 2015.SKYFALL™, the 23rd James Bond film, took in $1.1 billion worldwide and set a new mark as the highest-grossing film of all time in the UK; it was the best-selling Bond film on DVD/Blu-ray and was the most critically acclaimed film in the history of the longest-running film franchise.
Commenting on the announcement, Wilson and Broccoli said, “Following the extraordinary success of SKYFALL, we’re really excited to be working once again with Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes and John Logan.”
“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,” said Mendes.
Barber added, “We are thrilled to reunite the extraordinary talents of director Sam Mendes with our star Daniel Craig for the next great Bond adventure.” He added, “As evidenced by the phenomenal success of our last collaboration with EON Productions and Sony, the incredible legacy of this 51-year-old franchise continues to amaze.
”Lynton and Pascal said, “It’s a privilege to work on the Bond films. EON, John Logan and Sam Mendes have come up with an extraordinary follow up to SKYFALL and we, along with our partners at MGM, can’t wait to share this new chapter with audiences all over the world.”
Craig, now carrying on the Bond legacy for another year, once stated his regret playing the role, saying “I’ve been trying to get out of this from the very moment I got into it,” Among other things, he also expressed the limitations on his life as a result of his celebrity status, adding “It’s not like I go out there to be a sex symbol. I mean, it’s nice of course – but embarrassing.”
Skyfall writer John Logan, whose credits also include Gladiator, The Last Samurai and the upcoming release of the Russell Crowe starrer, Noah, will return for the Bond 24 script.
QUESTION: Are you looking forward to the next Bond film? And how do you feel about Craig’s statements now that he is back on board? Feel free to comment below or on Facebook or Twitter.
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