Update: Sam Mendes In Talks To Direct ‘Bond’ Film After All

What does it take to get Sam Mendes back on board for Bond? Apparently it’s just some serious talk about director Nicolas Winding Refn taking over the franchise. Combine that in with a little back and forth, and it looks like Mendes is definitely “in” again.

According to Deadline, Sam Mendes is back in talks to direct the next sequel to the Bond series. Sony and MGM have leaked that they are talking to Mendes and Daniel Craig for the next installment. Mendes of course directed the widely successful Skyfall, which grossed over $1.1 billion worldwide. For the series this proved to be the eighth highest grossing film of all time.

Originally Sam Mendes was out of the franchise. At the time Mendes told Empire that he would not direct the next Bond installment: “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.”

We’re guessing the chase for the next director, which was Christopher Nolan to Nicolas Winding Refn, made the studio go straight back to Mendes for a second try. The second try for Mendes seemed to be a shot worth taking, as it’s being reported that Mendes’ involvement looks to be coming true.

According to the most recent report the producers decided that Mendes was worth waiting for. Mendes will be able to finish his King Leer and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory obligations before he gets knee deep into another Bond film.

When Mendes wasn’t involved in the installment, along with Christopher Nolan and Nicolas Winding Refn, Ang Lee was also on a short list to head up the film.

While Sam Mendes directing the next Bond film seems to be closer to the truth than other reports, nothing has been absolutely confirmed. Guess we’ll just have to wait on this one.