Tag: Sam Mendes

James Bond will be back in U.S. theaters in November 2012 with “Skyfall,” the 23rd film in the venerable spy franchise and the third installment starring Daniel Craig as 007. Shooting began Thursday for the film that will mark the film franchise’s 50th anniversary, although the fans who made “Dr. No” a hit back in 1962 might barely recognize the hero in his current taciturn mode. Still, at a news conference in London, director Sam Mendes assured reporters and fans that he will keep the adrenaline pumping in an aging brand that was revitalized with Martin Campbell’s “Casino Royale” in 2006. “It, I think, has all the elements of a classic Bond movie, including, to quell any rumors, a lot of action,”  said the filmmaker, whose credits include “American Beauty,” “Jarhead” and ”Road to Perdition.” The new film will also star Javier Bardem as the villain and brings back Judi Dench as Bond’s ...

Rachel Abramowitz is back on the Hero Complex today with the news that Sam Mendes is poised to become the first Oscar-winning director in the history of the venerable James Bond franchise. Sam Mendes is engaged in discussions to become the next James Bond maestro, potentially making him the first Oscar winner ever to direct England’s suavest spy.  The “American Beauty” director is actually an old friend of Bond leading man Daniel Craig and introduced the actor to wider American audiences by casting him in the 2002 film “Road to Perdition.”  “Bond 23″ already has Peter Morgan, Oscar nominee for “The Queen” and “Frost/Nixon,” scripting moody character turns for 007, alongside Bond screenwriting stalwarts Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. MGM declined to confirm the report.  Of course, Mendes has a bunch of projects also brewing, including the long-gestating film adaptation of the comic ...