Coming off the $1B box office of Skyfall, MGM was quick to start putting together the pieces for the next film, and for awhile it seemed as if everything was coming together nicely. Sam Mendes appeared to be well on his way to directing the 24th James Bond film, and the studio was targeting a rather ambitious 2014 release date. The plan has now shifted considerably with Mendes out of the picture, and it turns out we may be waiting a lot longer.
MGM CEO and Chairman Gary Barber gave a brief update on the next 007 film, revealing that a new director announcement may be imminent...
Barber: "We are very excited about the franchise, we look forward to announcing a director soon… We are currently developing the screenplay and working with our partners. We look forward to developing the script soon and signing a director. We are hoping within the next 3 years it will be released."
The script he refers to is being handled solo by John Logan, although it's unclear if Mendes is still helping him develop the story as was reported awhile back. Three years is a big window, and it's possible that the film could arrive sooner. But these Bond films take a long time to produce, as evidenced by Skyfall's lengthy production period.
Who would you like to see as the next James Bond director? [Reuters]
