Sam Mendes In Talks To Direct Next 007 Movie

Tuesday

05Jan2010

Sam Mendes In Talks To Direct Next 007 Movie

Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 6:06PM

So, OK, early this morning we wrote about Bond producer Michael Wilson's assertion that because MGM is in such a state of flux, the next 007 movie isn't progressing at the moment. He even commented that at this stage, the script has usually taken some shape but because of everything going on with the possible sale of the studio or its assets, nothing has really materialized. That was this morning.

Tonight, Sam Mendes could be the new director of Bond 23, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is being fast-tracked, "and could begin as early as June." The report completely contradicts what Wilson said, insisting that the film is moving forward pronto, regardless of what happens at MGM.

Now...on to the Sam Mendes thing. Mendes is the only Oscar-winning director to ever work for MI6, should this go through, and there's a reason he'd be the first. The Broccoli family doesn't want to hand a ton of control over to a director, in part because they've been a part of this series for almost 50 years, and in part because the directors take one tour of duty these days.

True, Martin Campbell did both Goldeneye and Casino Royale, but he's the only two-timer in the past two decades. Because of that, the films carry a more generic visual stamp than if they went out and hired, say, Scorsese. They want Bond pictures, not Scorsese pictures, in other words. Mendes may not be as specifically identified as a visual director, and that probably helps him, although the franchise didn't exactly take a step forward with the introspective Marc Forster, now did it?

Here's another thing to consider, and I'm just speculating. What if, after the thud of Quantum of Solace following its big worldwide opening, the producers asked Daniel Craig for a wish list? He worked with Mendes before (Road to Perdition), and since Craig is the best actor in to ever wear the tuxedo, as well as the only one to enjoy significant concurrent success outside the franchise since Connery, he might have a fair amount of pull over some creative issues. Just a thought.

But this could be an excellent fit if the plan is to return to a more story-driven film with flurries of action, the way Casino Royale was developed. As I've mentioned before, you don't hire Peter Morgan to write fight scenes, and extending the logic, you don't really hire Mendes to direct jaw-dropping action. It's certainly a surprising choice, but now that I've had a few minutes to consider it, I don't hate it at all.

Colin Boyd |

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Reader Comments (3)

Im there...

Tuesday, January 5, 2010 |

The Observer

Considering "Road to Perdition" and don't forget "Jarhead" - good choice. It all weighs on the script though.

Thursday, January 7, 2010 |

J.Bradley

I think that the Bond-family realised that breaking the mold was the way forward (but Quantum of Solace was perhaps a step too far, hardly even a Bond-movie).

Sam Mendes is probably keen to follow in Chris Nolan's footsteps and direct a blockbuster movie. Jarhead and Revolutionary Road were, after all disappointing after the first two excellent films.

I have no clue if he can direct action, though. In Jarhead and Revolutionary road nothing really happens and in Road to Perdition, the violence takes place off screen.

But I think that both the Bond franchise and Sam Mendes's career could be revitalised by the match as it is sure to take both in a new direction.

Thursday, January 7, 2010 |

Lengthy Johnson

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