Do you remember ( a few hours ago) when we reported that ‘Bond 23’ was delayed due to MGM being on the fritz/up for sale and all of that?
Well, somebody didn’t get the memo because director Sam Mendes is in talks to take on the project [Latino Review].
Mendes has a considerable amount of clout in the directing department and, in my opinion, has yet to deliver a bad movie, from his feature debut American Beauty to last year’s departure from hard drama Away We Go.
And as for all of that delay talk, read this:
“Production is being fast-tracked and could begin as early as June with an eye toward a 2011 release. Plans for the film are moving forward despite a possible sale of MGM. Sony co-produced and distributed the most recent installment of the 007 series with MGM.
Bond regulars Neal Purvis and Robert Wade are writing, along with “Frost/Nixon” scribe Peter Morgan. Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli are producing. Daniel Craig will reprise his role as 007.“
Fast tracked huh? Delayed my eye. That said, is Mendes the right choice? Consider Bond’s last director, one Marc Forster, a talented individual who had produced Oscar-worthy material (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball) and than gave us the surprisingly lacking Quantum of Solace?
Is it possible (even likely) that Mendes will end the same way?
I guess, in the end, there’s only one Martin Campbell.
What do you think of this news? Do you like Mendes as Bond’s next helmer?