File under ‘whoa – did NOT see that one coming’. The Hollywood Reporter is saying that Sam Mendes is the surprise choice to helm the as yet-untitled Bond 23.
Mendes is currently in negotiations with EON big cheeses, Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, to direct the movie, which is ploughing ahead despite uncertainty over the sale of MGM, Bond’s parent company.
If he signs on the line that is dotted, production could well begin as early as June, for a release in 2011.
Mendes, of course, would mark a return to a British director after EON plumped for the first ‘foreign’ Bond director, the German-born Swiss, Marc Forster, for Quantum Of Solace. While that movie became the second most successful Bond movie ever, with a worldwide gross of $586 million, it wasn’t warmly received by critics and hardcore Bond fans, making a return for Forster unlikely.
But we still didn’t see Mendes coming. The 44 year-old has been something of a directorial chameleon in his career, flitting from dramas like American Beauty and Revolutionary Road, to the visually stunning and violent graphic novel adaptation, Road To Perdition, while he’s even tackled whimsical comedy with Away We Go.
A Bond movie, though, will be his biggest test yet. And, while all his films have looked beautiful, perhaps it was this ability to jump from genre to genre that persuaded EON to approach him. After all, while Bond movies are stylish, they’ve never been overwhelmed by any director’s particular style – so Mendes should fit right in. It’ll be interesting to see the visual approach he’ll bring to Bond.
And that’s all we know about **Bond 23 **so far, other than that Daniel Craig will return as Bond, Dame Judi Dench will also be back as M, and the script has been written by Peter Morgan and perennial Bond scribes, Neal Purvis and Robert Wade.
Oh and, even though it would make all kinds of sense, we don’t think that Mendes will be recruiting his wife, Kate Winslet, as the new Bond girl.
So, are you excited by this choice? Mendes is the first Oscar-winning director to tackle Bond, so what do you think he can bring to it? Answers, as ever, below.