Ifølge Hollywood Reporter-bloggen Heat Vision er Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Revolutionary Road) i forhandlinger om å regissere den neste Bond-filmen.

Deadline Hollywood melder at Mendes er hyret som «konsulent». Nettstedet skriver blant annet:

«Daniel Craig is ‘insisting’ on Mendes’ hiring because the actor was stung by criticism of the last Bond film [Quantum of Solace]. Deadline’s sources go on to say: Once EON hires a director on their Bond films, it triggers a first payment from MGM. Well, given that MGM is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, and EON may have the right to take Bond elsewhere, it stands to reason that the producers wouldn’t want to do anything right away that further complicates ownership of Bond #23. ‘The producers are working on a deal to bring Sam on as consultant with an eye to direct,’ said one of the insiders. ‘Once they put him on as the director, something happens to the contract in terms of ownership. But let me emphasize there’s not any deal done.’ Said one insider about the choice of Mendes: ‘Barbara thinks he’s smart, which he is. But you don’t need such a fancy director. You need someone who can do an action movie.’

Jeg mener at Mendes er et smart valg. Han kan absolutt tilføre noe nytt og spennende, og han har jobbet med Daniel Craig før – på Road to Perdition. Valget av Mendes viser at Bond-produsentene Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli ønsker å videreutvikle serien.