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| Sam Mendes won’t direct next James Bond film: ‘It’s time for somebody else’ | Sam Mendes won’t direct next James Bond film: ‘It’s time for somebody else’ |
| (1 day later) | |
| Sam Mendes, the acclaimed director of Skyfall and Spectre, said on Saturday he will not direct the next James Bond film. | Sam Mendes, the acclaimed director of Skyfall and Spectre, said on Saturday he will not direct the next James Bond film. |
| Related: It's Bond, Jane Bond: Gillian Anderson throws hat into the ring to be next 007 | Related: It's Bond, Jane Bond: Gillian Anderson throws hat into the ring to be next 007 |
| “It was an incredible adventure, I loved every second of it,” Mendes said at the Hay festival, of his five years working on Bond. “But I think it’s time for somebody else.” | “It was an incredible adventure, I loved every second of it,” Mendes said at the Hay festival, of his five years working on Bond. “But I think it’s time for somebody else.” |
| A former theatre director whose films include the Oscar-winner American Beauty and the sombre Revolutionary Road, Mendes said he hoped the next Bond director would come from an “unexpected direction”, just as he had. | |
| Skyfall was a huge hit with critics and fans, with many saying he brought new depth to the characters. Spectre was also a substantial success, although some critics said it seemed a bit tired. | Skyfall was a huge hit with critics and fans, with many saying he brought new depth to the characters. Spectre was also a substantial success, although some critics said it seemed a bit tired. |
| Mendes indicated a desire to work on something fresh. | Mendes indicated a desire to work on something fresh. |
| “I’m a storyteller,” he said. “And, at the end of the day, I want to make stories with new characters.” | |
| It is not yet clear if Daniel Craig will return for a fifth turn as 007. Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba are among his rumoured replacements, although this week Gillian Anderson pitched to play a female Bond. | It is not yet clear if Daniel Craig will return for a fifth turn as 007. Tom Hiddleston and Idris Elba are among his rumoured replacements, although this week Gillian Anderson pitched to play a female Bond. |
| Hiddleston and Elba are popular with moviegoers and have been backed by the bookmakers. However, Mendes said lobbying by fans is pointless because the decision will be made solely by the series producer, Barbara Broccoli. | |
| Related: The name’s Elba, Idris Elba – and he must be James Bond | Related: The name’s Elba, Idris Elba – and he must be James Bond |
| “It’s not a democracy,” he said. “Barbara Broccoli decides who is going to be the next Bond, end of story.” | “It’s not a democracy,” he said. “Barbara Broccoli decides who is going to be the next Bond, end of story.” |
| Mendes said that worked out well when Broccoli chose Craig, a little-known actor, for the key role at a time when he had “zero” support from fans. Many fans now consider Craig’s portrayal of the suave spy as having revitalised the Bond series. | |
| Sir Sean Connery played the role first, completing six official films and playing the role once outside the series, in the Thunderball remake Never Say Never Again. Sir Roger Moore has played Bond the most times, in seven films between 1973 and 1985. Pierce Brosnan starred in four Bond films, while Timothy Dalton played the spy twice and George Lazenby once. | Sir Sean Connery played the role first, completing six official films and playing the role once outside the series, in the Thunderball remake Never Say Never Again. Sir Roger Moore has played Bond the most times, in seven films between 1973 and 1985. Pierce Brosnan starred in four Bond films, while Timothy Dalton played the spy twice and George Lazenby once. |